Graphene network in copper sulfide leading to enhanced thermoelectric properties and thermal stability. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Huaichao; Sun, Fu-Hua; Dong, Jin-Feng; Asfandiyar, ; Zhuang, Hua-Lu; Pan, Yu; Li, Jing-Feng
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 49(2018)
• Page Start: 267
• Page End: 273
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Copper sulfide -- Graphene -- Grain-boundary engineering -- Thermoelectric; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2018.04.058
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Copper sulfide has received wide attention as a potential thermoelectric material with high performance and abundant resource. While the liquid-like Cu ions play an important role for the low κ L and high ZT values, grain-boundary engineering is needed to further enhance the phonon scattering and the thermal stability of Cu2- x S. Here, we introduced the 3D graphene heterointerface into the Cu2- x S matrix by a facile technique combining mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). A significant ZT enhancement was realized with the highest ZT up to 1.56 and a high power factor of 1197 μW m −1 K −2 at 873 K in the sample with 0.75 wt% graphene. Additionally, the composite showed excellent reproducibility of PF after five cycles testing from room temperature to 873 K, which confirmed the practical application potentiality of this composite. Graphical abstract: The 3D graphene network is introduced into the Cu2-x S matrix by a facile technique, leading to a significant ZT enhancement with the highest ZT up to 1.56 and a high PF of 1197 μW m −1 K −2 at 873 K achieved for the sample with 0.75 wt% graphene.fx1 Highlights: We demonstrated that introducing the 3D graphene heterointerface into the Cu2-x S matrix can increase Seebeck coefficient and reduce thermal conductivity. The highest ZT for 0.75 wt%G/Cu2- x S sample reached 1.56 with a power factor up to 1197 μW m −1 K −2 at 873 K. The incorporation of a small amount of graphene is effective in improving the thermal stability of Cu2-x S based thermoelectric materials.