Effect of MXene Addition on the Thermoelectric and Mechanical Properties of Skutterudite CoSb₃

Abstract

Skutterudite CoSb 3 is a high-performance thermoelectric material for mid-temperature range applications. When combined with a 2D material, Ti 3 C 2 T x (T represents functional groups such as −F, −OH, and −O) MXene and CoSb 3 showed improved electrical conductivity with reduced lattice thermal conductivity values. This work employs the four-phonon scattering mechanism using a modified Debye−Callaway model to show enhanced phonon−phonon scattering in the composite samples. Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene is proven to be a viable alternative for nanoinclusions in skutterudites, as evidenced by a 137% rise in the figure of merit (ZT) value at 623 K. At higher temperatures, pristine CoSb 3 and CoSb 3 + Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene composites show bipolar behavior in Seebeck coefficient data. Besides a 127% increase in hardness for the 3 wt % Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene-incorporated sample, adding MXene further enhances the load-bearing capacity of skutterudite samples.

Crystal Structure and Thermoelectric Properties of Pavonite Homologous Pb4Sb12–xBi8+xSe34

“…κ lat and κ ele are lattice and charge carrier thermal conductivity, respectively. − κ tot is consisted of κ ele and κ lat . The optimal thermoelectric materials are characterized by a high Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity, coupled with a low thermal conductivity. , However, the interdependence of these thermoelectric parameters, in conjunction with the influence of carrier concentration, presents a significant challenge in the pursuit of enhanced ZT values . Concurrently, given that thermoelectric devices are situated within a temperature-changing environment during operation, it is also necessary to consider the issue of thermal stability within the context of thermoelectric engineering. , …”