Issue 24, 2018

Engineering electrical transport in α-MgAgSb to realize high performances near room temperature

Abstract

α-MgAgSb shows promise as a potential new low-temperature thermoelectric (TE) material and has been widely researched recently. We explored the effects of sintering conditions on the properties of MgAgSb-based thermoelectric materials through manipulating a spark plasma sintering system (SPS), where Ag vacancies and Mg point defects play a dominant role. The transport properties of MgAgSb were optimized effectively and efficiently, especially for electrical transport. As a result, we obtained a steady power factor (PF) of ∼17 μW cm−1 K−2, owing to the optimal carrier concentration of 9.8 × 1019 cm−3. Additionally, α-MgAgSb exhibits an ultralow lattice thermal conductivity of around 0.45 Wm−1 K−1 at 375 K. More importantly, a high ZT value of 0.85 was achieved below 375 K, approaching room temperature.

Graphical abstract: Engineering electrical transport in α-MgAgSb to realize high performances near room temperature

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
06 Apr 2018
Accepted
21 May 2018
First published
21 May 2018

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2018,20, 16729-16735

Engineering electrical transport in α-MgAgSb to realize high performances near room temperature

J. Lei, D. Zhang, W. Guan, Z. Cheng, C. Wang and Y. Wang, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2018, 20, 16729 DOI: 10.1039/C8CP02186D

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