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Multiple phase formation and its influence on lattice thermal conductivity in β-Zn4Sb3

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2011

Titus Dasgupta ,
Christian Stiewe ,
Lothar Boettcher ,
Ralf Hassdorf ,
Hao Yin ,
Bo Iversen  and
Eckhard Mueller
Titus Dasgupta*
Affiliation:
Institute of Materials Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), D-51170Cologne, Germany
Christian Stiewe
Affiliation:
Institute of Materials Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), D-51170Cologne, Germany
Lothar Boettcher
Affiliation:
Institute of Materials Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), D-51170Cologne, Germany
Ralf Hassdorf
Affiliation:
Institute of Materials Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), D-51170Cologne, Germany
Hao Yin
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and iNANO, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark
Bo Iversen
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and iNANO, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark
Eckhard Mueller
Affiliation:
Institute of Materials Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), D-51170Cologne, Germany
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: titas.dasgupta@dlr.de
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Abstract

The extremely low thermal conductivity (κ) coupled with suitable Seebeck (S) and electrical conductivity (σ) values makes β-Zn4Sb3 a promising candidate for intermediate temperature (200–400 °C) thermogenerator applications. However, the poor thermal stability makes it difficult to reproduce the high thermoelectric figure of merit originally reported for this material.1 Using a combination of surface scanning techniques (Potential Seebeck microprobe, electron backscatter diffraction, and x-ray diffraction), we investigate specimens of β-Zn4Sb3 prepared under different synthesis conditions. Our results indicate the presence of multiple phases of Zn4Sb3 with distinct room temperature S values ranging from 70 to 140 μV/K. Though crystallographically similar, these phases have very different lattice contribution to the thermal conductivity (κL), which vary between 0.45 and 1.0 W/mK and might predominantly reflect the degree of Zn disorder among the different phases.

Keywords

ThermoelectricThermal conductivityX-ray diffraction
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 26 , Issue 15: Focus Issue: Advances in Thermoelectric Materials , 14 August 2011 , pp. 1925 - 1932
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

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References

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