Synthesis and Thermoelectric Properties of Half-Heusler Zr-Ni-Sn Alloy Processed by Mechanically Alloying and Hot Pressing

Recent search for novel thermoelectric materials has revealed a new class of compounds with half-Heusler structure as good candidates for higher performance thermoelectric conversion [1-2], since the structure was first found [3]. The unit cell of the half-Heusler with a space group F4¯ 3m consists of 4 interpenetrating cubic lattices. The crystallographic sites (0,0,0) and (1/4, 1/4, 1/4) are occupied by two different transition metals, the (1/2, 1/2, 1/2) site is occupied by Sn, Sb, or Bi, and the site (3/4, 3/4, 3/4) is empty [4,5]. Candidates with this structure for the investigation would be categorized into the combination of (Ti/Zr/Hf)(Co/Ni/Pt)(Sb/Sn/Bi) [4-6].