Thermoelectric performance of CuFeSsub2+22+2ix/i/sub composites prepared by rapid thermal explosion

摘要

Thermoelectric materials can be rapidly formed into efficient structural phases using controlled thermal explosions. Many thermoelectric materials contain toxic and expensive elements and are synthesized by energy intensive processes. ’Fool's gold‘, or chalcopyrite, a copper iron sulfide (CuFeS2) mineral, exhibits promising thermoelectric activity and a low toxicity. Xinfeng Tang from Wuhan University of Technology, China and co-workers have developed a quick process to arrange the atoms inside CuFeS2 for optimal electrical conductivity and heat retention. Exposing powdered reagents in a quartz tube to brief periods of intense temperatures initiated a series of exothermic, explosive reactions that synthesized target crystals in under a minute. The researchers adjusted the initial sulfur content to fine tune the chalcopyrite crystal phases generated during explosions, and, following sintering, recovered one compound with 130% times the normal thermoelectric conversion efficiency.