About this Abstract | 
  
   
    | Meeting | 
    2020 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
       | 
  
   
    | Symposium 
       | 
    Alloys and Compounds for Thermoelectric and Solar Cell Applications VIII
       | 
  
   
    | Presentation Title | 
    Enhanced Averaged zT in n-type Bi2Te3 via Solubility Control | 
  
   
    | Author(s) | 
    Wan-Ting  Yen, Hsin-jay  Wu, Pai-chun  Wei | 
  
   
    | On-Site Speaker (Planned) | 
    Wan-Ting  Yen | 
  
   
    | Abstract Scope | 
    
Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) has been the most well-established  room-temperature thermoelectric material since 1960s. In spite of countless efforts, there is still room for improvement, especially for the n-type counterpart. In this study, we introduced the electron-donor dopants (e.g., Cu, Se, etc.) into the Bi2Te3 alloys whose compositions are guided by a phase diagram that acts like a map navigating toward the n-type conduction zones. The presence of secondary phases in those (Cu,Se)-Bi2Te3 are likely responsible for the n-type conduction, whereas the concentration could be controlled via the dopant solubility. Notably, the power factor is significantly boosted to above 10.6 (mW/mK2) while the thermal conductivity remain unaffected low (κ~2.0-1.6 (W/mK)), leading to an enhanced average zT of 1.1 within 300 K – 550 K. | 
  
   
    | Proceedings Inclusion? | 
    Planned: Supplemental Proceedings volume |