Enhanced thermoelectric performance of p-type Mg₂Sn single crystals via multi-scale defect engineering

Abstract

Mg2Sn is a promising mid-temperature thermoelectric (TE) material consisting of earth-abundant, low-cost, and non-toxic elements. Currently, the TE performance of p-type Mg2Sn is still poor due to a lower power...

Effects of Oxygen on Lattice Defects in Single-Crystalline Mg2Si Thermoelectrics

“…Lattice defects such as point defects and dislocation cores should be reduced in photovoltaic and dielectric materials to achieve high energy-conversion efficiency. Although the introduction of lattice defects into TE materials also affects TE properties (the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity) [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ], it can improve TE performance mainly because lattice thermal conductivity ( κ L ) decreases due to enhanced phonon scattering by lattice defects [ 5 , 11 , 16 , 19 , 23 , 24 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Thus, investigating which point defect is formed and how it works in TE materials is important.…”