Surface Modification induced Double Decoupling in Transport Properties of Polycrystalline Bi

ORAL

Abstract

Nanostructured thermoelectric (TE) materials have gained major interest due to their ability to offer better control of electronic and thermal transport properties. Such nanostructures, with increased surface-to-volume ratio, lead to pronounced surface effects on various transport properties. In this study, we used the spark plasma sintering (SPS) process as a densification and surface modification technique for nano-structured Bi. Several samples were prepared with varying the DC pulse times and durations to tailor interface/surface properties. As a result, a complete decoupling of electrical and thermal transport (\textit{double decoupling}) in nano-structured Bi was observed with enhanced (greater than six-fold) power factor. This is a very significant improvement that goes beyond partial decoupling. Details of the TE properties will be presented.

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Authors

  • Jian He

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson SC, USA 29634, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States 29634

  • Pooja Puneet

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson SC, USA 29634, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States 29634

  • R.S. Sai Siddhardha

    Department of Physics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson SC, USA 29634, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC USA 29634, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States 29634, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, India, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning

  • Song Zhu

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson SC, USA 29634, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States 29634

  • Malcolm Skove

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson SC, USA 29634, Clemson University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States 29634

  • Terry Tritt

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson SC, USA 29634, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States 29634

  • Apparao M. Rao

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson SC, USA 29634, Clemson University, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC USA 29634, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States 29634, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634