Issue 48, 2019

High-performance electron-doped GeMnTe2: hierarchical structure and low thermal conductivity

Abstract

GeTe has attracted extensive interest due to its promising mid-temperature thermoelectric performance, yet the high cost and ferroelectric phase transformation may limit its application. Here, we explore the thermoelectric properties of electron doped GeMnTe2, which is a much cheaper derivative of GeTe with a rock-salt structure and a high thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT value) of 1.4. It is substantiated that an all-scale hierarchical structure including point defects at the atomic scale, endotaxially embedded nano-inclusions and precipitates are responsible for the strong scattering of phonons and low lattice thermal conductivity. Further synergistic modulation of electrical and thermal transport properties is successfully realized by Pb doping, which is effective in optimizing the carrier concentration and suppressing the phonon propagation by lattice softening and enhanced point defect scattering. The present work revealed the potential of GeMnTe2 as a promising candidate for mid-temperature thermoelectric materials and demonstrated the effectiveness of nanostructuring to enhance the thermoelectric performance.

Graphical abstract: High-performance electron-doped GeMnTe2: hierarchical structure and low thermal conductivity

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
09 9月 2019
Accepted
13 11月 2019
First published
15 11月 2019

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019,7, 27361-27366

High-performance electron-doped GeMnTe2: hierarchical structure and low thermal conductivity

J. Dong, J. Pei, H. Zhuang, H. Hu, B. Cai and J. Li, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019, 7, 27361 DOI: 10.1039/C9TA09972G

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