Abstract
Thermoelectric properties of molybdenum selenides containing Mo9 clusters have been investigated between 300 K and 800 K. Ag x Mo9Se11 (x = 3.4 and 3.8) have been synthesized by solid-state reaction and spark plasma sintering. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy reveal high purity and good homogeneity of the samples. The thermoelectric power of the samples is positive over the whole investigated temperature range, indicating that the majority of charge carriers are holes. The Seebeck coefficient increases with temperature, and the temperature coefficient of the resistivity is positive. Significantly low thermal conductivity, comparable to values reported for state-of-the-art thermoelectric materials, is observed in this new system, and this is assumed to be associated with the rattling effect from the Ag filler atoms. It has been demonstrated that the electrical and thermal properties correlate to the Ag concentration. For x = 3.8, a promising dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit of ∼0.7 is obtained at 800 K.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
D.M. Rowe, CRC Handbook of Thermoelectrics (Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1995).
D.M. Rowe, CRC Handbook of Thermoelectrics: Macro to Nano (Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2005).
J.R. Sootsman, D.Y. Chung, and M.G. Kanatzidis, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 48, 8616 (2009).
G.J. Snyder and E.S. Toberer, Nat. Mater. 7, 105 (2008).
B.C. Sales, D. Mandrus, and R.K. Williams, Science 272, 1325 (1996).
H.J. Kim, E.S. Božin, S.M. Haile, G.J. Snyder, and S.J.L. Billinge, Phys. Rev. B 75, 134103 (2007).
G.S. Nolas, J.L. Cohn, G.A. Slack, and S.B. Schujman, Appl. Phys. Lett. 73, 178 (1998).
T. Caillat, J.P. Fleurial, and G.J. Snyder, Solid State Sci. 1, 535 (1999).
R.W. Nunes, I.I. Mazin, and D.J. Singh, Phys. Rev. B 59, 7969 (1999).
C. Roche, R. Chevrel, A. Jenny, P. Pecheur, H. Scherrer, and S. Scherrer, Phys. Rev. B 60, 16442 (1999).
E. Kaldis, Current Topics in Materials Science, Vol. 3 (Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1979).
B.C. Sales, B.C. Chakoumakos, D. Mandrus, and J.W. Sharp, J. Solid State Chem. 146, 528 (1999).
E. Levi, G. Gershinsky, D. Aurbach, O. Isnard, and G. Ceder, Chem. Mater. 21, 1390 (2009).
P. Gougeon, J. Padiou, J.Y.L. Marouille, M. Potel, and M. Sergent, J. Solid State Chem. 51, 218 (1984).
P. Gougeon, M. Potel, and R. Gautier, Inorg. Chem. 43, 1257 (2004).
S. Picard, J.-F. Halet, P. Gougeon, and M. Potel, Inorg. Chem. 38, 4422 (1999).
P. Gougeon, M. Potel, J. Padiou, and M. Sergent, CR Acad. Sci. 297, 351 (1983).
T. Caillat and J.-P. Fleurial, J. Solid State Chem. 59, 1139 (1998).
M.A. McGuire, A.M. Schmidt, F. Gascoin, G. Jeffrey Snyder, and F.J. DiSalvo, J. Solid State Chem. 179, 2158 (2006).
X-y Shi, L. Wang, L-d Chen, and X-h Chen, Trans. Nonferr. Met. Soc. 19, 642 (2009).
R. Landauer, J. Appl. Phys. 23, 779 (1952).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhou, T., Lenoir, B., Christophe, C. et al. Cage-Shaped Mo9 Chalcogenides: Promising Thermoelectric Materials with Significantly Low Thermal Conductivity. J. Electron. Mater. 40, 508–512 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-010-1413-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-010-1413-z