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Thermoelectric properties of La- and Sc-doped Mg3Sb2 synthesized via pulsed electric current sintering

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Abstract

High-efficiency thermoelectric materials that convert heat into electricity are considered as a countermeasure against greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. In this regard, Mg3Sb2-based Zintl compounds, such as Mg3(Sb, Bi)2 and Mg3Sb2–Mg3Bi2, are inexpensive yet suitable candidates in the medium-temperature range due to low-toxicity and relative abundance of their constituent elements. However, n-type Mg3Sb2 without Bi possesses superior oxidation resistance. This study aimed to investigate the suitability of Sc and La as candidates for n-type Mg3Sb2 dopants. La-doped and Sc-doped Mg3Sb2 (Mg3Sb2Mx [M = La, Sc]; x = 0.000 to 0.05) were synthesized by a one-step, rapid pulsed electric current sintering using Mg, Sb, and a small amount of hydrate (La(OH)3) or oxide (Sc2O3). Electron backscatter diffraction revealed that the average grain sizes for the La-doped (x = 0.03) and Sc-doped (x = 0.05) Mg3Sb2 were 17 and 38 μm, respectively. The room temperature maximum electron concentration for the La-doped and Sc-doped Mg3Sb2 increased up to 2.3 × 1019 and 3.7 × 1019 cm−3, respectively, which is comparable to or higher than the maximum values obtained for the reported n-type Te-doped Mg3Sb2 (approximately 2 × 1019 cm−3). The maximum dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit values for the La-doped and Sc-doped Mg3Sb2 at 770 K were 0.93 and 0.80, respectively, indicating that Sc and La are promising doping candidates for achieving higher ZT values in n-type Mg3Sb2 without Bi.

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Acknowledgements

This research was partially supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (No. 18K04791) from the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan.

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  1. Electronic Materials Research Division, Morinomiya Center, Osaka Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, 1-6-50 Morinomiya, Joto-ku, Osaka, 536-8553, Japan

    Jun-ichi Tani & Hiromichi Ishikawa

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  1. Jun-ichi Tani
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  2. Hiromichi Ishikawa
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Correspondence to Jun-ichi Tani.

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Tani, Ji., Ishikawa, H. Thermoelectric properties of La- and Sc-doped Mg3Sb2 synthesized via pulsed electric current sintering. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 31, 7724–7730 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-03308-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-03308-8

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