Nanoscale inclusions in the phonon glass thermoelectric material Zn 4Sb3

Prytz, A. E. Gunnæs, O. B. Karlsen, T. H. Breivik, E. S. Toberer, G. Jeffrey Snyder, J. Taftø

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have investigated the thermoelectric material Zn4Sb 3 using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Nanoscale inclusions with a diameter of about 10 nm were observed, constituting on the order of 1% by volume of the material. Studies using energy filtered imaging, electron diffraction, and high-angle annular dark-field STEM indicate that the inclusions consist of Zn. These inclusions are expected to scatter the medium and long-wavelength phonons effectively, thus contributing to phonon glass behavior which results in the exceptionally low thermal conductivity for this thermoelectric material.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)362-369
Number of pages8
JournalPhilosophical Magazine Letters
Volume89
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2009

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge financial support from the Norwegian Research Council and the Caltech MURI program. We would also like to thank Douglas Medlin for discussions.

Keywords

  • Nanoparticles
  • Phonon glass
  • TEM
  • Thermoelectric material

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics

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