Hierarchical Phonon Scattering from Nano to Macro Scale in Ag-Nano/TiO2-Micro Particle-Decorated p-type Bismuth Telluride Bulk Composites

We study the thermoelectric properties of a p-type Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3.4 (BST) composite with Ag nanoparticle-decorated TiO2 microparticles (US-Ag/TiO2). The dispersion of US-Ag/TiO2 particles, synthesized by an ultrasonication (US) method, into the matrix effectively decreases lattice and bipolar thermal conductivity, attributed to the scattering centers formed at nano and micro scales. The electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) measurements revealed smaller grain sizes within the BST composite when paired with the US-Ag/TiO2 particle dispersion. These reduced grain sizes, alongside nanoparticle-decorated microparticles dispersed throughout the matrix, scatter phonons effectively from long- to short-wavelength phonons and subsequently decrease lattice thermal conductivity. While the power factors of the composites are reduced, significant suppression of lattice and bipolar thermal conductivity has led to an increase in the maximum zT value (1.4 at 325 K) for a 0.9 wt % US-Ag/TiO2 particle dispersion within the BST matrix. This particle dispersion in the BST composite consistently demonstrates a high zT value across an extensive temperature spectrum, leading to an exceptionally high average zT(avg) value (1.38 up to 400 K), which is superior to the other values from reported BST composites. Thus, this research indicates that the dispersion of nanoparticle-decorated microparticles within a thermoelectric material matrix can significantly improve thermoelectric performance, which has promising implications for practical applications in thermoelectric cooling and sustainable and economical energy harvesting technologies.