Journal of Shanghai University(Natural Science Edition) ›› 2020, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (1): 95-101.doi: 10.12066/j.issn.1007-2861.2011

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Investigation on the thermoelectric properties of beta -Zn4Sb3 graphene composites

Fengcai LIU, Pengfei GAO, Qingfei MENG, Juan QIN(), Weimin SHI, Linjun WANG   

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
  • Received:2018-02-02 Online:2020-02-28 Published:2020-03-22
  • Contact: Juan QIN E-mail:juan_qin@staff.shu.edu.cn

Abstract:

beta-Zn4Sb3/graphene composite material was prepared by mixing graphene powder and beta -Zn4Sb3 powder through hot pressing, and its structure and thermoelectric properties were checked. The results of X-ray diffraction show that the main component of the composite samples is still beta -Zn4Sb3 phase,and that the average grain size decreases slightly with the increase of graphene concentration, indicating that there is no significant effect on the phase formation of the composite sample when the graphene concentration is within 5.0%. In addition, the Seebeck coefficient of the composites containing graphene varies only slightly, but the electrical conductivity decreases and the thermal conductivity increases, which contributes to the lowering of the ZT value. The main reason might be the reduction of hole concentration due to the electron compensation effect accompanied by the incorporation of graphene, thereby reducing the sample carrier concentration, and the changes to the Zn atom disorder of beta -Zn4Sb3 as well.

Key words: beta -Zn4Sb3, graphene, thermoelectric composite material

CLC Number: