Synthesis and Thermoelectric Properties of WO₃/Cu₂SnSe₃ Composites

Abstract:

In this study, nanometer WO₃ powder was uniformly dispersed into the Cu₂SnSe₃ powder by ball milling process, and the WO₃/Cu₂SnSe₃ thermoelectric composite was prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The results showed that the nano-WO₃ particles were mainly distributed in the grain boundary of Cu₂SnSe₃ matrix, and the grain growth of Cu₂SnSe₃ was inhibited. The addition of nano-WO₃ could enhance the electrical conductivity of Cu₂SnSe₃, and while the Seebeck coefficient increased slightly for the 0.4% WO₃/Cu₂SnSe₃ composite. The thermal conductivity was not decreased until the content of WO₃ exceeded 1.6%. The highest thermoelectric figure of merit ZT of 0.177 was achieved at 700 K for 0.4% WO₃/Cu₂SnSe₃ composite. The enhancement of ZT value of WO₃/Cu₂SnSe₃ thermoelectric material was mainly attributed to the improvement of the electrical properties.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 913)
• Pages: 811-817
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.913.811
• Online since: February 2018
• Authors: Di Wu, Ji Ai Ning, De Gang Zhao*, Xue Zhen Wang, Na Liu
• Keywords: Composites, Cu₂SnSe₃, Thermoelectric Material, Thermoelectric Properties

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