Realizing Remarkable Improvement of Electrical Performance in N‐Type BiSbSe 3 via In Situ Compositing

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2024-01, Vol.34 (4)
• Main Authors: Wang, Sining, Zhang, Linlin, Hong, Tao, Su, Lizhong, Wen, Yi, Qin, Bingchao, Xiao, Yu, Wang, Yuping, Shi, Haonan, Zheng, Junqing, Qiu, Yuting, Zhao, Li‐Dong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202310335

BiSbSe 3 is a Te‐free thermoelectric material with intrinsically low thermal conductivity. Its thermoelectric performance is limited by poor electrical conductivity. To optimize electrical conductivity, Bi 2 SbSe 3 with high carrier concentration and mobility is introduced to BiSbSe 3 matrix through in situ reaction and conventional mechanical mixing. In both methods, carrier concentrations are improved by carrier injection and redistribution. Carrier mobility is manipulated based on microstructure. In the conventional method, isolated flake‐shaped Bi 2 SbSe 3 grains with weak‐bonding phase boundaries restrict carrier mobility. For the in situ method, irregular Bi 2 SbSe 3 connects into conductive networks inducing a percolation effect, and in situ formed small‐angle phase boundaries barely impede carriers. Thus, the carrier mobilities of in situ composites are significantly improved and higher than that of conventional composites. Simultaneously optimized carrier concentration and mobility remarkably enhance electrical conductivity over the whole working temperature. Maximum electrical conductivity of 378 S cm −1 is achieved in BiSbSe 3 ‐38 vol% Bi 2 SbSe 3 in situ composites at 300 K, obtaining more than 300% improvement compared with 124 S cm −1 in BiSbSe 3 matrix. Lattice thermal conductivity is reduced at a low compositing fraction. Ultimately, a record‐breaking average ZT of 0.65 (300–750 K) is attained in BiSbSe 3 ‐13 vol% Bi 2 SbSe 3 in situ composite. The in situ compositing method in this work effectively optimizes electrical performance, anticipated to be applied in other thermoelectric materials.