Simultaneous Boost of Power Factor and Figure-of-Merit in In-Cu Codoped SnTe

摘要

Significantly enhanced thermoelectric performance is achieved for eco-friendly SnTe by a coorperative effect between a dopant resonant energy level and interstitial defects. By manipulating the band structure through indium doping, the Seebeck coefficient is remarkably improved, leading to an enhanced power factor, with a high level of ≈29 μW cm~(-1) K~(-2) at 873 K. Lattice thermal conductivity is sharply reduced, approaching the amorphous limit, through the strong phonon scattering induced by multiple scales of Cu_2Te nanoprecipitates, as well as Cu interstitials, leading to a high ZT value of ≈1.55 at 873 K.