Work

Thermoelectric performance of silicon with oxide nanoinclusions

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Silicon nanoparticles produced via a plasma-based technique have been sintered into bulk nanostructured samples. These samples have micron-sized crystalline domains and contain well-dispersed oxide nanoinclusions. We have compared the thermoelectric performance of such structure to that of a control sample produced by sintering ball-milled silicon powders. The control sample has lower precipitate density and is composed of nanograins. Despite the stark difference in nanostructure, both samples have comparable thermal conductivity, and the sample with nanoinclusions has higher power factor and ZT. This result confirms that grain size engineering is not the only promising route to achieving improved thermoelectric performance.

Source: Materials Research Letters

DOI: 10.1080/21663831.2018.1477846

Authors: D. Coleman, T. Lopez, S. Exarhos, M. Mecklenburg, S. Bux, L. Mangolini

Institutions: University of California, Riverside, University of Southern California, California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,459