ZT enhancement in solution-grown Sb(2-x)BixTe3 nanoplatelets.
We report a solution-processed, ligand-supported synthesis of 15-20 nm thick Sb(2-x)BixTe3 nanoplatelets. After complete ligand removal by a facile NH3-based etching procedure, the platelets are spark plasma sintered to a p-type nanostructured bulk material with preserved crystal grain sizes. Due to this nanostructure, the total thermal conductivity is reduced by 60% in combination with a reduction in electric conductivity of as low as 20% as compared to the bulk material demonstrating the feasibility of the phonon-glass electron-crystal concept. An enhancement in the dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit of up to 15% over state-of-the-art bulk materials is achieved, meanwhile, shifting the maximum to significantly higher temperatures.
Scheele
Marcus
M
University of Hamburg, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany. scheele@chemie.uni-hamburg.de
Oeschler
Niels
N
Veremchuk
Igor
I
Reinsberg
Klaus-Georg
KG
Kreuziger
Anna-Marlena
AM
Kornowski
Andreas
A
Broekaert
José
J
Klinke
Christian
C
Weller
Horst
H