Abstract
Sb2Te3-based thermoelectric (TE) ink was synthesized by mixing different Sb2Te3 microsizes with a ChaM-based solution. A thick-film TE was fabricated via a screen-printing technique on SiO2/Si-wafer substrates. The thickness of the film was controlled at 200 µm, the film was dried on hotplates at 433 K for 30 min, and the film was annealed at 523 K under vacuum for 30 min. The crystal structure, morphology, chemical composition, Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity, and ZT were evaluated for the annealed film samples. The small powder size of Sb2Te3 was found to be in good condition, and a maximum ZT value of 1.04 was obtained at 468 K, which is more than three times that of the large size at the same temperature.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Z.B. Zhang, J.Q. Wang, and S. Wang, Roll-to-roll printing of spatial wearable thermoelectrics. Manuf. Lett. 21, 28 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mfglet.2019.07.002.
P.V. Ilaiyaraja, A.C. Sharma, T.K. Dakshinamurthy, and D.C. Sudakar, Fabrication of metal chalcogenide thin films by a facile thermolysis process under air ambient using metal-3-mercaptopropionic acid complex. Mater. Res. Bull. 141, 111346 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2021.111346.
S. Bag, P.N. Trikalitis, P.J. Chupas, G.S. Armatas, and M.G. Kanatzidis, Porous semiconducting gels and aerogels from chalcogenide cluster. Science 31, 490 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.11425.
S.H. Park, S. Jo, B. Kwon, F. Kim, H.W. Ban, J.E. Lee, D.H. Gu, S.H. Lee, Y. Hwang, J.S. Kim, D.B. Hyun, S. Lee, K.J. Choi, W. Jo, and J.S. Son, High-performance shape-engineerable thermoelectric painting. Nat. Commun. 7, 13403 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13403.
H.J. Wu, P.C. Lee, F.Y. Chiu, S.W. Chen, and Y.Y. Chen, Self-assisted nucleation and growth of [010]-oriented Sb2Te3 whisker: the crystal structure and thermoelectric property. J. Mater. Chem. 3, 10488 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC01364J.
R. Venkatasubramanian, E. Siivola, T. Colpitts, and B.O. Quinn, Thin-film thermoelectric devices with high room-temperature figures of merit. Nature 413, 597 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35098012.
K. Park, K. Ahn, J. Cha, S. Lee, S. Chae, I. Cho, I.S.P. Ryee, S. Im, J. Lee, J. Park, S.D. Han, M.J. Chung, and I.T. Hyeon, Extraordinary off-stoichiometric bismuth telluride for enhanced n-type thermoelectric power factor. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 43, 14458 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.6b09222.
S. Thaowonkaew, M. Kumar, and A. Vora-ud, Thermoelectric properties of Ag-doped Sb2Te3 thin films on SiO2 and polyimide substrate with rapid thermal annealing. J. Electron. Mater. 50, 2669 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-021-08788-w.
Y.Q. Cao, X.B. Zhao, T.J. Zhu, X.B. Zhang, and J.P. Tu, Syntheses and thermoelectric properties of Bi2Te3/Sb2Te3 bulk nanocomposites with laminated nanostructure. Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 143106 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2900960.
L. Yang, Z. Gang, M.S. Dargusch, and J. Zou, High performance thermoelectric materials: progress and their application. Adv. Energy Mater. 6, 17011797 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201701797.
X. Lu, P. Lu, Y. Fan, W. Zhou, S. Gu, Z. Zhou, J. Zhang, L. Su, L. Wang, and W. Jiang, Structurally nanocrystalline electrically monocrystalline Sb2Te3 with high thermoelectric performance. Scr. Mater. 166, 81 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2019.03.013.
M. Orrill and S. LeBlance, Printed thermoelectric materials and devices: fabrication techniques, advantages, and challenges. J. Appl. Polym. 44256, 1 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1002/app.44256.
Y. Zhao, H. Liu, H. Qin, X. Chu, X. Wang, X. Wang, K. Cai, D. Liu, C. Wang, and J. Wang, Spin coating-co-reduction approach: a general strategy for preparation of oriented chalcogenide thin film on arbitrary substrates. Rare Metals 30, 651 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-011-0365-z.
S.J. Kim, J.H. We, J.S. Kim, G.S. Kim, and B.J. Cho, Thermoelectric properties of p-type Sb2Te3 processed by a screen-printing technique and a subsequent annealing process. J. Alloys Compd. 582, 177 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.07.195.
R.J. Horwood and T. Better, Understanding of screen print thickness control. Electron. Sci. Technol. 1, 129 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1155/APEC.1.129.
H. Choi, S.J. Kim, Y. Kim, J.H. We, M. Oh, and B.J. Cho, Enhanced thermoelectric properties of screen-printed Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 and Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 thick films using a post annealing process with mechanical pressure. J. Mater. Chem. C. 5, 8559 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1039/C7TC01797A.
F. Kim, B. Kwon, Y. Eom, J.E. Lee, S. Park, S. Jo, S.H. Park, B.S. Kim, H.J. Im, M.H. Lee, T.S. Min, K.T. Kim, H.G. Chae, W.P. King, and J.S. Son, Composition-segmented BiSbTe thermoelectric generator fabricated by multimaterial 3D printing. Nat. Energy 3, 301 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105638.
S.H. Park, S. Jo, B. Kwon, F. Kim, H.W. Ban, J.E. Lee, D.H. Gu, S.H. Lee, Y. Hwang, J.S. Kim, D.B. Hyun, S. Lee, K.J. Choi, W. Jo, and J.S. Son, High-performance shape-engineerable thermoelectric painting. Nat. Commun. 7, 13403 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13403.
S.J. Kim, J.H. We, and B.J. Cho, A wearable thermoelectric generator fabricated on a glass fabric. Energy Environ. Sci. 7, 1959 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1039/C4EE00242C.
F. Kim, B. Kwon, Y. Eom, J.E. Lee, S. Park, S. Jo, S.H. Park, B.S. Kim, H.J. Im, M.H. Lee, T.S. Min, K.T. Kim, H.G. Chae, W.P. King, and J.S. Son, 3D printing of shape-conformable thermoelectric materials using all-inorganic Bi2Te3-based inks. Nat. Energy 3, 301 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-017-0071-2.
S.K. Wang, T.C. Lin, S.R. Jian, J.Y. Juang, J.S.C. Jang, and J.Y. Tseng, Effects of post-annealing on the structural and nanomechanical properties of Ga-doped ZnO thin films deposited on glass substrate by RF-magnetron sputtering. Appl. Surf. Sci. 258, 1261 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2011.09.088.
S.M. Shin, R. Kumar, J.W. Roh, D.S. Ko, H.S. Kim, S.I. Kim, L. Yin, S. Schlossberg, S. Cui, J.M. You, S. Kwon, J. Zheng, J. Wang, and R. Chen, High-performance screen-printed thermoelectric films on fabrics. Sci. Rep. 1, 7317 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07654-2.
A. Samavati, H. Nur, A.F. Ismail, and Z. Othaman, Radio frequency magnetron sputtered ZnO/SiO2/glass thin film: role of ZnO thickness on structural and optical properties. J. Alloys Compd. 671, 170 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.02.099.
A. Vora-ud, S. Thaowonkaew, J. Khajonrit, K. Singsoog, P. Muthitamongkol, C. Chananonwathorn, N. Chanlek, M. Horpathum, S. Maensiri, and T. Seetawan, Rapid thermal annealing induced the c-axis (00l) preferred orientation and the p-type thermoelectric properties of Bi-Sb-Te thin films. Thin Solid Films 706, 138094 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2020.138094.
P.M. Radingoana, S.G. Fritsch, J. Noudem, P.A. Olubambi, G. Chevallier, and C. Estournès, Microstructure and thermoelectric properties of Al-doped ZnO ceramic prepared by spark plasma sintering. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 43, 1009 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2022.10.034.
G.H. Dong, Y.J. Zhu, and L.D. Chen, Microwave-assisted rapid synthesis of Sb2Te3 nanosheets and thermoelectric properties of bulk samples prepared by spark plasma sintering. J. Mater. Chem. 10, 1976 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1039/B915107A.
T. Chen, P. Fan, Z. Zheng, D. Zhang, X. Cai, G. Liang, and Z. Cail, Influence of substrate temperature on structural and thermoelectric properties of antimony telluride thin films fabricated by RF and DC co-sputtering. J. Electron. Mater. 41, 679 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-011-1896-2.
J.B. Thorat, S.V. Mohite, S.B. Madake, S.K. Shinde, D.S. Lee, J. Jung, K.Y. Rajpure, T.J. Shinde, V.J. Fulari, and N.S. Shinde, Physico-electrochemical investigation of electrodeposited nanocrystalline Sb2Te3 thin films. Int. J. Res. Anal. Rev. 1269, 2349 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC03656A.
P. Junlabhut, P. Nuthongkum, A. Harnwunggmoung, P. Limsuwan, C. Hatayothai, R. Sakdanuphab, and A. Sakulkalavek, Thickness dependence of thermoelectric properties and maximum output power of single planar Sb2Te3 films. Materials 15, 8850 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15248850.
H. Jalili, B. Aslibeiki, A.G. Varzaneh, and V.A. Chernenko, The effect of magneto-crystalline anisotropy on the properties of hard and soft magnetic ferrite nanoparticles. Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 10, 1348 (2019). https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.10.133.
D. Vollath, Criteria ruling particle agglomeration. Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 12, 1093 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.12.81.
R.M. German, Rheological model for viscous flow densification during supersolidus liquid phase sintering. Sci. Sinter. 38, 27 (2006). https://doi.org/10.2298/SOS0601027G.
P. Bathnagar, and D. Vashaee, Development of MEMS process compatible (Bi, Sb)2(Se, Te)3-based thin films for scalable fabrication of planar micro-thermoelectric generators. Micromachines 13, 1459 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13091459.
M.H. Lee, K.R. Kim, J.S. Rhyee, S.D. Park, and G.J. Snyder, High thermoelectric figure-of-merit in Sb2Te3/Ag2Te bulk composites as Pb-free p-type thermoelectric materials. J. Mater. Chem. C 3, 10494 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1039/C5TC01623A.
E. Vieira, J. Figureira, A.L. Pires, J. Grilo, M.F. Silva, A.M. Pereira, and L.M. Goncalves, Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 thin films with enhanced thermoelectric properties for flexible thermal sensors. Proceedings 2, 815 (2018). https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2130815.
G.J. Snyder, A.H. Snyder, M. Wood, R. Guranathan, B.H. Snydera, and C. Niu, Weighted mobility. Adv. Mater. 32, 2001537 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202001537.
S. Kumar, M. Faraz, and N. Khare, Enhanced thermoelectric properties of Sb2Te3-graphene nanocomposite. Mater. Res. Express 6, 085079 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ab1d1f.
T.H. An, Y.S. Lim, M.J. Park, J.Y. Tak, S. Lee, H.K. Cho, J.Y. Cho, C. Park, and W.S. Seo, Composition-dependent charge transport and temperature-dependent density of state effective mass interpreted by temperature-normalized pisarenko plot in Bi2−xSbxTe3 compounds. Appl Mater. 4, 104812 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4961106.
P. Dharmaiah, H.S. Kim, C.H. Lee, and S.J. Hong, Influence of powder size on thermoelectric properties of p-type25%Bi2Te3-75%Sb2Te3 alloys fabricated using gas-atomization and spark-plasma sintering. J. Alloys Compd. 686, 1 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.05.340.
S.M. Yoon, B. Madavali, C.H. Lee, O.E. Femi, J.H. Lee, S.H. Song, and S.J. Hong, Fabrication of large-scale p-type 75% Sb2Te3-25% Bi2Te3 thermoelectric materials by gas atomization and hot isostatic pressing. Mater. Res. Bull. 130, 110924 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2020.110924.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and Thailand Graduate Institute of Science and Technology (TGIST) Grant, SCA-CO-2563-12020-TH and Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development Research and Innovation (PMU-B) e-ASIA JRP program (B16F650001). I would like to express Prof. Ady Suwardi of The National University of Singapore (NUS) for supporting the thermal conductivity measurements.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Ruamruk, S., Chayasombat, B., Singsoog, K. et al. Thermoelectric Properties of Sb2Te3 Ink Fabricated by Screen-Printing Technique. J. Electron. Mater. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-024-10996-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-024-10996-z