Microstructure engineering design for thermoelectric materials : an approach to minimize thermal diffusivity

Stéphane Gorsse (1) , P. Bauer Pereira (1) , Rodolphe Decourt (1) , Elisabeth Sellier (2)

1 ICMCB - Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux
2 Centre de Ressources en Microscopie Electronique et Microanalyse

An alloy engineering approach aiming to produce a fine two-phase mixture thermoelectric material is highlighted in order to reduce the thermal diffusivity. We utilized the spinodal decomposition in the PbTe-GeTe quasi-binary system to control the alloy microstructure through solutioning, quenching and aging treatments. The effect of various microstructural states on the thermal diffusivity is analyzed. It is observed that a minimum in thermal diffusivity is obtained when several microstructural contributions are combined.

Domaines: Matériaux

Stéphane Gorsse, P. Bauer Pereira, Rodolphe Decourt, Elisabeth Sellier. Microstructure engineering design for thermoelectric materials : an approach to minimize thermal diffusivity. Chemistry of Materials, 2010, 22 (3), pp.988-993. ⟨10.1021/cm901862m⟩. ⟨hal-00466354⟩