Band and defect engineering in solution-processed nanocrystal building blocks to promote transport properties in nanomaterials: The case of thermoelectric Cu 3SbSe 4

Xiao, Shanshan, Zhao, Mingjun, Li, Mingquan, Wan, Shanhong, Genc, Aziz, Huang, Lulu, Chen, Lei, Zhang, Yu, Ibáñez, Maria, Lim, Khak Ho, Hong, Min, Liu, Yu and Cabot, Andreu 2025. Band and defect engineering in solution-processed nanocrystal building blocks to promote transport properties in nanomaterials: The case of thermoelectric Cu 3SbSe 4. Nano Research 18 (1) , 94907072. 10.26599/NR.2025.94907072

Preview

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (27MB) | Preview

Abstract

The development of cost-effective and high-performance thermoelectric (TE) materials faces significant challenges, particularly in improving the properties of promising copper-based TE materials such as Cu3SbSe4, which are limited by their poor electrical conductivity. This study presents a detailed comparative analysis of three strategies to promote the electrical transport properties of Cu3SbSe4 through Sn doping: conventional Sn atomic doping, surface treatment with SnSe molecular complexes, and blending with SnSe nanocrystals to form nanocomposites, all followed by annealing and hot pressing under identical conditions. Our results reveal that a surface treatment using SnSe molecular complexes significantly enhances TE performance over atomic doping and nanocomposite formation, achieving a power factor of 1.1 mW·m−1·K−2 and a maximum dimensionless figure of merit zT value of 0.80 at 640 K, representing an excellent performance among Cu3SbSe4-based materials produced via solution-processing methods. This work highlights the effectiveness of surface engineering in optimizing the transport properties of nanostructured materials, demonstrating the versatility and cost-efficiency of solution-based technologies in the development of advanced nanostructured materials for application in the field of TE among others.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Research Institutes & Centres > Cardiff Catalysis Institute (CCI) Schools > Chemistry
Publisher:	Springer
ISSN:	1998-0124
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	2 April 2025
Date of Acceptance:	11 October 2024
Last Modified:	04 Apr 2025 11:49
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/177363

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item