High Thermoelectric Performance of Bi0.46Sb1.54Te3-SnTe: Synergistic Modulation of Electrical and Thermal Transport by the Introduction of Thermoelectric Hetero Nano Region

The thermoelectric hetero nano region, as a new strategy, can effectively modulate the electrical and thermal transport properties. In this study, the thermoelectric hetero nano region is explored to improve the thermoelectric performance for Bi0.46Sb1.54Te3 material at room temperature, and a high ZT of 1.45 at 325 K has been achieved. We introduce the thermoelectric hetero nano SnTe regions in a Bi0.46Sb1.54Te3 matrix by mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering technique, which decouples the relation between electrical and thermal transport properties. The improved electrical conductivity can be attributed to the increase in carrier concentration due to the increased point defects and Bi/Sb-Te antisite defects. Thermoelectric hetero nano regions effectively scatter the acoustic phonon and thus induce the low lattice thermal conductivity of 0.33 W m(-1) K-1. Due to the synergistic modulation of electrical and thermal transport by the introduction of the thermoelectric hetero nano region, a high ZT value of 1.45 is realized at 325 K.