| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2023 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Alloys and Compounds for Thermoelectric and Solar Cell Applications XI
|
| Presentation Title |
Interface and Grain Boundary Effects on Thermal and Electrical Transport |
| Author(s) |
G. Jeffrey Jeffrey Snyder |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
G. Jeffrey Jeffrey Snyder |
| Abstract Scope |
Grain boundaries have a remarkable effect on the thermal and electrical transport properties of polycrystalline materials but are often ignored by prevailing physical theories. Grain boundaries and interfaces can adversely alter the properties of Solar Cells, Batteries and Thermoelectrics such as interfacial electrical and thermal resistance (Kapitza resistance) and even an interfacial Seebeck effect.
Electrical grain boundary resistance can be so high in some thermoelectric materials it is the dominant property that limits zT. While small grains are usually considered beneficial for thermoelectric performance due to reduced thermal conductivity, Mg₃Sb₂ based thermoelectric materials, so far at least, contradict that trend. Indeed, atomic segregation has been recently observed at the nanometer scale in grain boundaries in many materials suggesting interfacial or complexion phases should be specifically considered when understanding nearly all thermoelectric materials. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |