Abstract
In this report an alternative approach for optimization of the thermoelectric properties of half-Heusler compounds is presented. The common approaches are partial substitution of elements by elements of nearby groups and substitution with homologs. In this approach we substitute one element by one neighboring element with fewer valence electrons and by one with more electrons. The amounts of the substitutions are chosen such that the amount of deficiency and excess electrons are compensated. In the solid solution \(\hbox{TiCo}_{x}(\hbox{Ni}_{0.5}\hbox{Fe}_{0.5})_{1-x}\hbox{Sb}\), Co was substituted equally by Fe and Ni. The aim of the substitution was to improve the figure of merit by a reduction of the thermal conductivity accompanied by an unchanged high Seebeck coefficient. The solid solution \(\hbox{TiCo}_{x}(\hbox{Ni}_{0.5}\hbox{Fe}_{0.5})_{1-x}\hbox{Sb}\) was synthesized by arc-melting. The structure of the as-cast samples was analyzed by x-ray diffraction. Rietveld refinements yielded the \(C1_b\) structure type with a small amount of antisite disorder between Co and Sb. The thermoelectric properties of the solid solution were investigated in the temperature range from 2 K to 400 K. A Seebeck coefficient of \(-260\,\mu\hbox{V\,K}^{-1}\) at 400 K and a reduction of the thermal conductivity to \(3\,\hbox{Wm}^{-1}\,\hbox{K}^{-1}\) were measured. The figure of merit was enhanced by a factor of about seven to a value of 0.04 at 400 K for \(\hbox{TiCo}_{0.8}(\hbox{Ni}_{0.1}\hbox{Fe}_{0.1})\hbox{Sb}\).
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
D. Rowe, CRC Handbook of Thermoelectrics (Boca Raton, FL: CRC, 1995).
H.J. Goldsmid, CRC Handbook of Thermoelectrics (Boca Raton, FL: CRC, 1995).
B. Sales, B. Chakoumakos, D. Mandrus, and J. Sharp, J. Solid State Chem. 146, 528 (1999).
B. Sales, D. Mandrus, B.C. Chakoumakos, V. Keppens, and J. Thompson, Phys. Rev. B 56, 15081 (1997).
S. Sakurada and S. Shutoh, Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, 2105 (2005).
Y. Kimura, T. Kuji, A. Zama, Y. Shibata, and Y. Mishima, Solid-State Ionics (2006).
T. Wu, W. Jian, X. Li, Y. Zhou, and L. Chen, J. Appl. Phys. 102, 1037051 (2007).
M. Zhou, L. Chen, C. Feng, D. Wang, and J. Li, J. Appl. Phys. 101, 1137141 (2007).
K. Kroth, B. Balke, G. Fecher, V. Ksenofontov, C. Felser, and H.J. Lin, Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 202509 (2006).
V. Ksenofontov, K. Kroth, S. Reiman, F. Casper, V. Jung, M. Takahashi, M. Takeda, and C. Felser, Hyp. Int. 168, 1201 (2006).
W. Ting, W. Jiang, X. Lia, S. Baia, S. Liufu, and L. Chen, J. Alloys Compd. 467, 590 (2009).
L.L. Wang, L. Miao, Z.Y. Wang, W. Wei, R. Xiong, H.J. Liu, J. Shi, and X.F. Tang, J. Appl. Phys. 105, 013709 (2009).
J. Tobola, J. Pierre, S. Kaprzyk, R.V. Skolozdra, and M.A. Kouacou, J. Phys.: Condens. Matter. 10, 1013 (1998).
B. Balke, G.H. Fecher, A. Gloskovskii, J. Barth, K. Kroth, F. Felser, R. Robert, and A. Weidenkaff, Phys. Rev. B 77, 045209 (2008).
J.O. Sofo and G.D. Mahan, Phys. Rev. B 49, 4565 (1994).
R. Chasmar and R. Stratton, J. Electron. Control 7, 52 (1959).
G.D. Mahan, J. Appl. Phys. 65, 1578 (1989).
T. Sekimoto, K. Kurosaki, H. Muta, and S. Yamanaka, J. Alloys Compd. 394, 122 (2005).
Y. Stadnyka, V.A. Romaka, M. Shelyapina, Y. Gorelenko, L. Romaka, D. Fruchart, A. Tkachuk, and V. Chekurin, J. Alloys Compd. 421, 19 (2006).
B. Balke, K. Kroth, G. Fecher, and C. Felser, J. Appl. Phys. 103, 07D115 (2008).
D. Jung, H.J. Koo, and M.H. Whangbo, J. Mol. Struc. (THEOCHEM) 527, 113 (2000).
J. Tobola, L. Jodin, P. Pecheur, H. Scherrer, G. Venturini, B. Malaman, and S. Kaprzyk, Phys. Rev. B. 64, 155103 (2001).
E. Müller, C. Stiewe, D. Rowe, and S. Williams, Thermoelectrics Handbook Macro To Nano (Boca Raton: CRC, 2006).
Q. Design, Physical Property Measurement System Thermal Transport Option User’s Manual (USA, San Diego: Quantum Design, 2002).
P.J. Webster and K. Ziebeck, J. Phys. Chem. Solids 34, 1647.
A. Szytula, Z. Tomkowicz, and M. Turowski, Acta Phys. Pol. A 44, 147 (1973).
L. Vegard, Zeitschr. f. Phys. A Hadr. Nucl. 5, 17 (1921).
N. Tareuchi, K. Gosho, M. Hiroi, and M. Kawakami, Phys. B: Condens. Mater. 359–361, 1183 (2005).
Y. Xia, V. Ponnambalam, S. Bhattacharya, A.L. Pope, S.J. Poon, and T.M. Tritt. J. Phys.: Condens. Mater. 13, 7789 (2001).
C. Bhandari and R. Rowe, Thermal Conduction in Semiconductors (New Delhi, India: Wiley Eastern, 1988).
V. Zaitsev and M. Fedorov, Thermoelectrics Handbook Macro To Nano (Boca Raton: CRC, 2006).
C.M. Bhandari, CRC Handbook of Thermoelectrics (Boca Raton: CRC, 1995).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Balke, B., Barth, J., Schwall, M. et al. An Alternative Approach to Improve the Thermoelectric Properties of Half-Heusler Compounds. J. Electron. Mater. 40, 702–706 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-011-1517-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-011-1517-0