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Adjusting Na doping via wet-chemical synthesis to enhance thermoelectric properties of polycrystalline SnS

湿化学方法掺杂Na对多晶SnS热电性能的影响

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Abstract

Tin sulfide (SnS) has analogous structural features to tin selenide (SnSe), but contains more abundant resources as compared with SnSe. SnS has elicited attention as a potential eco-friendly thermoelectric (TE) material. However, the intrinsic carrier concentration of SnS is very low, thereby hindering the performance improvement of the material. This study proposes that the TE properties of polycrystalline Nadoped SnS (synthesized through an improved chemical coprecipitation) can be significantly enhanced. The maximum power factor (PF) of 362 μW m−1 K−2 at 873 K was achieved, presenting a state-of-the-art value for the polycrystalline SnS. Considering the merits of the improved electrical properties and lower thermal conductivity of SnS, the highest ZT was up to 0.52 at 873 K even without intentional chemical doping. This study offers an effective approach for improving the PF to achieve high ZT in SnS. Hence, we expect that this new perspective can be extended to other dopants and broaden the scope of synthesis technology.

摘要

SnS作为一种与SnSe特征结构相似且元素丰度更高的热电材料, 受到越来越多的关注, 但是其较低的本征载流子浓度限制了热电性能的提升. 本工作利用了一种改进的化学共沉淀方法调节基体中Na+含量来提高载流子浓度, 进而提升了多晶SnS的热电性能. 最大功率因子在873 K达到362 μW m−1 K−2, 高于目前关于多晶SnS的最高报道值. 得益于提升的电输运性能以及较低的热导率, ZT值在873 K达到0.52. 该工作为其他热电化合物的掺杂改性技术提供了新思路.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2018YFB0703603), the Basic Science Center Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, 51788104), and the NSFC (11474176).

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Correspondence to Jing-Feng Li  (李敬锋).

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Huaichao Tang is a PhD candidate in the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University. His current research focuses on the synthesis of chalcogenides and their applications in thermoelectric.

Jin-Feng Dong is a PhD candidate in the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University. His current research focuses on the synthesis of manganese-based materials and their applications in thermoelectric.

Jing-Feng Li received PhD from Tohoku University in 1991, and worked there as an assistant professor and associate professor until joining Tsinghua University as a full professor in 2002. He is currently Cheung Kong Scholar Distinguished Professor at Tsinghua University. His research interest includes piezoelectric and thermoelectric materials and MEMS technologies. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Materiomics.

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Tang, H., Dong, JF., Sun, FH. et al. Adjusting Na doping via wet-chemical synthesis to enhance thermoelectric properties of polycrystalline SnS. Sci. China Mater. 62, 1005–1012 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-018-9392-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-018-9392-7

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