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Nanocomposite of Bi2Te3 with Metal Inclusions for Advanced Thermoelectric Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Sumithra Santhanam ,
Nathan J. Takas ,
Dinesh Misra ,
Pierre F. P. Poudeu  and
Kevin L. Stokes
Sumithra Santhanam
Affiliation:
ssanthan@uno.edu, University of New Orleans, Advanced Materials Research Institute, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Nathan J. Takas
Affiliation:
ntakas@uno.edu, University of New Orleans, Advanced Materials Research Institute, 2000 Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70148, United States, 1(504)280-5629, 1(504)280-3185
Dinesh Misra
Affiliation:
dmisra@uno.edudakkmisra@gmail.com, UNO, AMRI, SC2046B, AMRI, UNO, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70148, United States, 5047566703
Pierre F. P. Poudeu
Affiliation:
ppoudeup@uno.edu, University of New Orleans, Chemistry, 2000 Lakeshore Dr, SC2005, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70148, United States, (504)2801057, (504)2803185
Kevin L. Stokes
Affiliation:
klstokes@uno.edu, University of New Orleans, Physics, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
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Abstract

Recent experimental and theoretical studies have shown that the thermal to electrical power conversion efficiency (as measured by the thermoelectric figure of merit) can be enhanced in nanocomposite materials. Primarily, these efforts to improve the thermoelectric efficiency rely on reducing the lattice thermal conductivity through nanostructuring of the materials or the introduction of a second nanometer-scale phase into the composite material. Here, we show that the inclusion of semimetal nanoparticles into bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) can result in both an increase in the electronic transport properties (so called "power factor") as well as a decrease in lattice thermal conductivity. The effect of different volume fractions of Bi nanoinclusions (3% and 5%) on the thermal and electrical properties of the composite are reported. A marginal increase in the thermoelectric figure of merit is achieved for 3% metal nanoinclusion, whereas a significant improvement in the figure of merit could be achieved for 5% nanoinclusions in the Bi2Te3 thermoelectric matrix.

Keywords

thermoelectricthermal conductivitygrain size
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1218: Symposium Z – Energy Harvesting–From Fundamentals to Devices , 2009 , 1218-Z05-11
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

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