β-Zn4Sb3 is one of the most important thermoelectric materials in the intermediate temperature range, while the poor mechanical properties limit its commercial application. A series of β-Zn4+xSb3 bulk materials with high thermoelectric performance and high mechanical properties were fabricated by a melt spinning (MS) technique followed by a quick spark plasma sintering (SPS) procedure. By adjusting the stoichiometric ratio of Zn and Sb, we optimize the thermoelectric performance of this series of bulk materials. With increasing the amount of Zn, electrical and thermal conductivities of the sample increase, and the Seebeck coefficient declines. The ZTmax is 1.13 at 700K for the Zn4.32Sb3 sample, compared with the M-ingot sample it increases by 47% at the same temperature. The samples prepared by MS-SPS method have much better mechanical properties compared with the samples prepared by traditional melting and SPS method. The pressive strength of MS-SPS samples was nearly twice of that of the sample prepared by melting method. This kind of high performance and high mechanical strength β-Zn4+xSb3 bulk material has great potential for commercial application.
QI De-Kui
,
YAN Yong-Gao
,
LI Han
,
TANG Xin-Feng
. Effects of Rapid Solidification Method on Thermoelectric and Mechanical Properties of β-Zn4+xSb3 Materials[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2010
, 25(6)
: 603
-609
.
DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1077.2010.00603
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