title: Figure-of-merit enhancement in nanostructured FeSb(2-x)Ag(x) with Ag(1-y)Sb(y) nanoinclusions.
abstract: We present the figure-of-merit (ZT) improvement in nanostructured FeSb(2-x)Ag(x) with Ag(1-y)Sb(y) nanoinclusions through a  metal/semiconductor interface engineering approach. Owing to the interfaces between FeSb(2-x)Ag(x) and Ag(1-y)Sb(y) phases, as well as the identical work functions, both thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity of the nanocomposites were significantly reduced in the lower temperature regime compared with pure FeSb(2). Overall, an improvement of 70% in ZT was achieved for the optimized nanocomposite FeSb(1.975)Ag(0.025)/Ag(0.77)Sb(0.23) sample, in which Ag(0.77)Sb(0.23) is about 10% by molar ratio. The results of this approach clearly demonstrated the metal/semiconductor interface concept and confirmed the potential of strongly correlated material systems as promising thermoelectric materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA.
authors.forename: Huaizhou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Mani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pokharel
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Bolin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lukas
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Opeil
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhifeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ren