Nanoscale inclusions in the phonon glass thermoelectric material Zn4Sb3

We have investigated the thermoelectric material Zn 4 Sb 3 using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Nanoscale inclusions with a diameter of about 10 nm were observed, constituting on the order of 1% by volume of the material. Studies using energy filtered imaging, electron diffraction, and high...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Philosophical magazine letters 2009-06, Vol.89 (6), p.362-369
Main Authors: Prytz, Ø., Gunnæs, A.E., Karlsen, O.B., Breivik, T.H., Toberer, E.S., Jeffrey Snyder, G., Taftø, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties
Conductivity phenomena in semiconductors and insulators
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
Electronic transport in condensed matter
Exact sciences and technology
Glasses (including metallic glasses)
Materials science
nanoparticles
phonon glass
Physics
Specific materials
TEM
Thermoelectric and thermomagnetic effects
thermoelectric material
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Summary:We have investigated the thermoelectric material Zn 4 Sb 3 using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Nanoscale inclusions with a diameter of about 10 nm were observed, constituting on the order of 1% by volume of the material. Studies using energy filtered imaging, electron diffraction, and high-angle annular dark-field STEM indicate that the inclusions consist of Zn. These inclusions are expected to scatter the medium and long-wavelength phonons effectively, thus contributing to phonon glass behavior which results in the exceptionally low thermal conductivity for this thermoelectric material.
ISSN:0950-0839
1362-3036
DOI:10.1080/09500830902950464