Improving Thermoelectric Properties of Inorganic Clathrates by Atomic and Microscale Structure Engineering
Doktorsavhandling, 2021
In this thesis, we have studied the atomic and microscale structure of the clathrates and investigated its impact on the thermoelectric properties. Especially, with a combination of experiment and theoretical calculations, the existence of an order-disorder phase transition is confirmed. It further influences the electrical transport properties, since the band structure changes after the phase transition. The degree of chemical ordering can be controlled by the synthesis method, because materials reach different equilibrium states in either route. In addition, it is found that atomic vacancies can induce a peculiar transition effect in the electrical resistivity.
In order to investigate its influence on the thermoelectric performance, a novel method is employed, where Ba8(AlxGa1–x)16Ge30 clathrates are synthesized by alloying Ba8Al16Ge30 with Ba8Ga16Ge30. This way a heterostructure is created, which contains the quaternary clathrate main phase and aggregates of Al particles. Consequently, the charge carrier mobility is largely improved to a value higher than that of the single crystal, while the lattice thermal conductivity is reduced due to the enhanced phonon scattering at different length scales.
A greatly improved understanding of the process-structure-property relationship of clathrates is achieved in this thesis. The methodologies used, as well as the key findings, can be applicable for other material systems, and hence facilitate the future research in the thermoelectrics field.
Crystal structure
Thermoelectrics
Chemical ordering
Microstructure
Clathrates
Thermal properties
Electrical transport properties
Författare
Yifei Zhang
Chalmers, Kemi och kemiteknik, Tillämpad kemi
Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance of Ba8Ga16Ge30 Clathrate by Modulation Doping and Improved Carrier Mobility
Advanced Electronic Materials,;Vol. 7(2021)
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift
Order-Disorder Transition in Inorganic Clathrates Controls Electrical Transport Properties
Chemistry of Materials,;Vol. 33(2021)p. 4500-4509
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift
Investigating the Chemical Ordering in Quaternary Clathrate Ba₈AlₓGa₁₆₋ₓGe₃₀
Inorganic Chemistry,;Vol. 60(2021)p. 16977-16985
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift
Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance of Ba8Ga16Ge30 Clathrateby Modulation Doping and Improved Carrier Mobility
Advanced Electronic Materials,;Vol. In Press(2020)p. 2000782-
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift
Zhang Y., Palmqvist A. E. C. Effect of Ce Doping on the Thermoelectric Properties of Clathrates Ba8AlxGa16–xGe30.
Thermoelectric materials have been extensively studied: nanotechnology has boosted the thermoelectric performance of the state-of-art materials, the newly discovered materials have leveled the whole field to a more compelling state. In this thesis, we have studied inorganic clathrates, one of the prominent thermoelectric materials. Especially, we have investigated the atomic structure with a combination of experiment and theoretical calculation, and are able to tackle some problems that remained ambiguous previously. Moreover, by engineering the microstructure we have improved the thermoelectric performance of the clathrates. We believe that, the methodologies in this thesis are applicable to other materials systems and can facilitate the future research of thermoelectric materials.
Sveriges Neutronforskarskola - SwedNESS
Stiftelsen för Strategisk forskning (SSF) (GSn15-0008), 2017-01-01 -- 2020-12-31.
Stiftelsen för Strategisk forskning (SSF) (GSn15-0008), 2016-07-01 -- 2021-06-30.
Ämneskategorier
Oorganisk kemi
Styrkeområden
Materialvetenskap
ISBN
978-91-7905-575-2
Doktorsavhandlingar vid Chalmers tekniska högskola. Ny serie: 5042
Utgivare
Chalmers
10:an, Kemigården 4, Chalmers. Zoom password: 548153
Opponent: Prof. Nini H. Pryds, Technical University of Denmark