High‐Efficiency Thermoelectric Module Based on High‐Performance Bi_0.42Sb_1.58Te₃ Materials

Abstract

Bismuth‐telluride‐based alloy is the sole thermoelectric candidate for commercial thermoelectric application in low‐grade waste heat harvest near room temperature, but the sharp drop of thermoelectric properties at higher temperature and weak mechanical strength in zone‐melted material are the main obstacles to its wide development for power generation. Herein, an effective approach is reported to improve the thermoelectric performance of p‐type Bi0.42Sb1.58Te3 hot‐pressed sample by incorporating Ag5SbSe4. A peak ZT of 1.40 at 375 K and a high average ZT of 1.25 between 300 and 500 K are achieved. Such outstanding thermoelectric performance originates from the synergistic effects of improved density‐of‐states effective mass, reduced bipolar thermal conductivity by the boosted carrier concentration, and suppressed lattice thermal conductivity by the induced phonon scattering centers including substitute point defects, dislocations, stress–strain clusters, and grain boundaries. Comprised of the p‐type Bi0.42Sb1.58Te3 + 0.10 wt% Ag5SbSe4 and zone‐melted n‐type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3, the thermoelectric module exhibits a high conversion efficiency of 6.5% at a temperature gradient of 200 K, indicating promising applications for low‐grade heat harvest near room temperature.

All-Inorganic Halide Perovskites Boost High-Ranged Figure-of-Merit in Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 for Thermoelectric Cooling and Low-Grade Heat Recovery

“…(e) Comparison of this work and materials with top ZT values prepared by other strategies in BST system. ,,,− (f) Cooling performance of 0.50 mol % CsPbI 3 /BST with commercial Bi 2 Te 2.7 Se 0.3 (BTS) n -type leg under different working current. (g) Conversion efficiency as a function of temperature difference for CsPbI 3 /BST-Mg 3 Sb 0.8 Bi 1.2 integrated module compared with that of reported high-performance TEG. ,,− …”

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

“…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. , …”