Effects of Ge-Doping on Thermoelectric Performance of Polycrystalline Cubic Sn<sub>0.5</sub>Ag<sub>0.25</sub>Bi<sub>0.25</sub>Se<sub>0.50</sub>Te<sub>0.50</sub>

Cubic phase SnSe-based materials have great potential in the field of thermoelectricity due to their reduced carrier scattering, increased band degeneracy, and ultra-low lattice thermal conductivity. Nevertheless, systematic studies on the influence of element doping on the thermoelectric properties...

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Main Authors: Haoyu Zhao, Junliang Zhu, Zhonghe Zhu, Lin Bo, Wenying Wang, Xingshuo Liu, Changcun Li, Degang Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Crystals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/7/622
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_version_ 1849419215092580352
author Haoyu Zhao
Junliang Zhu
Zhonghe Zhu
Lin Bo
Wenying Wang
Xingshuo Liu
Changcun Li
Degang Zhao
author_facet Haoyu Zhao
Junliang Zhu
Zhonghe Zhu
Lin Bo
Wenying Wang
Xingshuo Liu
Changcun Li
Degang Zhao
author_sort Haoyu Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Cubic phase SnSe-based materials have great potential in the field of thermoelectricity due to their reduced carrier scattering, increased band degeneracy, and ultra-low lattice thermal conductivity. Nevertheless, systematic studies on the influence of element doping on the thermoelectric properties of cubic SnSe-based materials are still relatively scarce. To enrich the research in this field, this work investigates the effects of Ge doping on the phase composition, electrical and thermal transport properties of cubic Sn<sub>0.50</sub>Ag<sub>0.25</sub>Bi<sub>0.25</sub>Se<sub>0.50</sub>Te<sub>0.50</sub> thermoelectric materials. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that the Ge-doped samples exhibited a single cubic phase structure, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) revealed a uniform distribution of elements within the samples. The results indicate that increasing the Ge doping content substantially enhances their electrical conductivity, albeit at the expense of elevated thermal conductivity. By optimizing the content of Ge-doping, the thermoelectric figure of merit (<i>ZT</i>) reached 0.74 at 750 K. Notably, while moderate Ge doping enhances electrical transport properties, excessive doping leads to a significant rise in thermal conductivity, ultimately constraining further thermoelectric performance gains.
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issn 2073-4352
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series Crystals
spelling doaj-art-08b048ac9ff54a679177a73c5cc876412025-08-20T03:32:12ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522025-07-0115762210.3390/cryst15070622Effects of Ge-Doping on Thermoelectric Performance of Polycrystalline Cubic Sn<sub>0.5</sub>Ag<sub>0.25</sub>Bi<sub>0.25</sub>Se<sub>0.50</sub>Te<sub>0.50</sub>Haoyu Zhao0Junliang Zhu1Zhonghe Zhu2Lin Bo3Wenying Wang4Xingshuo Liu5Changcun Li6Degang Zhao7School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, ChinaCubic phase SnSe-based materials have great potential in the field of thermoelectricity due to their reduced carrier scattering, increased band degeneracy, and ultra-low lattice thermal conductivity. Nevertheless, systematic studies on the influence of element doping on the thermoelectric properties of cubic SnSe-based materials are still relatively scarce. To enrich the research in this field, this work investigates the effects of Ge doping on the phase composition, electrical and thermal transport properties of cubic Sn<sub>0.50</sub>Ag<sub>0.25</sub>Bi<sub>0.25</sub>Se<sub>0.50</sub>Te<sub>0.50</sub> thermoelectric materials. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that the Ge-doped samples exhibited a single cubic phase structure, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) revealed a uniform distribution of elements within the samples. The results indicate that increasing the Ge doping content substantially enhances their electrical conductivity, albeit at the expense of elevated thermal conductivity. By optimizing the content of Ge-doping, the thermoelectric figure of merit (<i>ZT</i>) reached 0.74 at 750 K. Notably, while moderate Ge doping enhances electrical transport properties, excessive doping leads to a significant rise in thermal conductivity, ultimately constraining further thermoelectric performance gains.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/7/622thermoelectric materialSn<sub>0.5</sub>Ag<sub>0.25</sub>Bi<sub>0.25</sub>Se<sub>0.50</sub>Te<sub>0.50</sub>cubic phaseGe doping<i>ZT</i> value
spellingShingle Haoyu Zhao
Junliang Zhu
Zhonghe Zhu
Lin Bo
Wenying Wang
Xingshuo Liu
Changcun Li
Degang Zhao
Effects of Ge-Doping on Thermoelectric Performance of Polycrystalline Cubic Sn<sub>0.5</sub>Ag<sub>0.25</sub>Bi<sub>0.25</sub>Se<sub>0.50</sub>Te<sub>0.50</sub>
Crystals
thermoelectric material
Sn<sub>0.5</sub>Ag<sub>0.25</sub>Bi<sub>0.25</sub>Se<sub>0.50</sub>Te<sub>0.50</sub>
cubic phase
Ge doping
<i>ZT</i> value
title Effects of Ge-Doping on Thermoelectric Performance of Polycrystalline Cubic Sn<sub>0.5</sub>Ag<sub>0.25</sub>Bi<sub>0.25</sub>Se<sub>0.50</sub>Te<sub>0.50</sub>
title_full Effects of Ge-Doping on Thermoelectric Performance of Polycrystalline Cubic Sn<sub>0.5</sub>Ag<sub>0.25</sub>Bi<sub>0.25</sub>Se<sub>0.50</sub>Te<sub>0.50</sub>
title_fullStr Effects of Ge-Doping on Thermoelectric Performance of Polycrystalline Cubic Sn<sub>0.5</sub>Ag<sub>0.25</sub>Bi<sub>0.25</sub>Se<sub>0.50</sub>Te<sub>0.50</sub>
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Ge-Doping on Thermoelectric Performance of Polycrystalline Cubic Sn<sub>0.5</sub>Ag<sub>0.25</sub>Bi<sub>0.25</sub>Se<sub>0.50</sub>Te<sub>0.50</sub>
title_short Effects of Ge-Doping on Thermoelectric Performance of Polycrystalline Cubic Sn<sub>0.5</sub>Ag<sub>0.25</sub>Bi<sub>0.25</sub>Se<sub>0.50</sub>Te<sub>0.50</sub>
title_sort effects of ge doping on thermoelectric performance of polycrystalline cubic sn sub 0 5 sub ag sub 0 25 sub bi sub 0 25 sub se sub 0 50 sub te sub 0 50 sub
topic thermoelectric material
Sn<sub>0.5</sub>Ag<sub>0.25</sub>Bi<sub>0.25</sub>Se<sub>0.50</sub>Te<sub>0.50</sub>
cubic phase
Ge doping
<i>ZT</i> value
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/7/622
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