About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Alloys and Compounds for Thermoelectric and Solar Cell Applications XIV
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| Presentation Title |
Toward Sustainable Thermoelectrics: Optimizing Sn-Doped β-Zn<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>3</sub> and Mg<sub>3</sub>(Sb,Bi)<sub>2</sub> for High-Efficiency Energy Harvesting |
| Author(s) |
Chou-Shun Lu, Hsin-Jay Wu |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Chou-Shun Lu |
| Abstract Scope |
Conventional thermoelectric materials such as Bi<sub>2</sub>Te<sub>3</sub> and PbTe rely on rare and toxic elements, highlighting the critical need to develop thermoelectric materials that are safer, more affordable, and resource-abundant. β-Zn<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>3</sub> is an environmentally friendly thermoelectric material. Its inherently high zT results from extremely low thermal conductivity, which is caused by a complex crystal structure and diverse Zn defect sites. In this work, we optimize thermoelectric transport properties through the combination of Sn-doping and Bridgman crystal growth techniques. Meanwhile, Mg<sub>3</sub>(Sb,Bi)<sub>2</sub>, another promising eco-friendly thermoelectric material, is synthesized through a simple one-step melting method that minimizes contamination and enhances phase purity in a controlled atmosphere. Additionally, compositional tuning further increases its zT to nearly double that of intrinsic Mg<sub>3</sub>Bi<sub>2</sub>. Together, these strategies mark significant progress toward next-generation thermoelectric materials for clean energy applications. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Energy Conversion and Storage, Sustainability, Other |