Doubling the ZT record of TiS2-based thermoelectrics by incorporation of ionized impurity scattering

Abstract

1T-type TiS₂ has been recognized as a promising environmentally friendly thermoelectric material with a record ZT of around 0.4 so far. We hereby report the high thermoelectric performance of a series of TiS₂–xAgSnSe₂ composites with nano-AgSnSe₂ as an ionized impurity for electron scattering. Electrical conductivities (σ) in the composites increased possibly due to intercalation; moreover, they showed an exceptional power law decay of σ ∝ T^m with m much increased in the temperature range of 400–580 K due to a significant contribution of ionized impurity scattering. Correspondingly, Seebeck coefficients (S) experience a much faster growth from ∼450 K to approach and even surpass that in pristine TiS₂. The simultaneous enhancement of σ and S enabled a high power factor of ∼1.55 mW m⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 700 K. Besides, the lattice thermal conductivity was effectively reduced due to enhanced phonon scattering and intercalations, almost by half from 1.9 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ to 1.0 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 700 K. These synergistic effects renewed the record of ZT for TiS₂-based thermoelectrics by almost doubling it to ∼0.8 at 700 K in the TiS₂–4%AgSnSe₂ composite.