Realization of Band Convergence in p-Type TiCoSb Half-Heusler Alloys Significantly Enhances the Thermoelectric Performance

Band engineering is a promising approach that proved successful in enhancing the thermoelectric performance of several families of thermoelectric materials. Here, we show how this mechanism can be induced in the p-type TiCoSbhalf-Heusler (HH) compound to effectively improve the Seebeck coefficient. Both the Pisarenko plot and electronic band structure calculations demonstrate that this enhancement is due to increased density-of-states effective mass resulting from the convergence of two valence band maxima. Our calculations evidence that the valence band maximum of TiCoSb lying at the Gamma point exhibits a small energy difference of 51 meV with respect to the valence band edge at the L point. Experimentally, this energy offset can be tuned by both Fe and Sn substitutions on the Co and Sb site, respectively. A Sn doping level as low as x = 0.03 is sufficient to drive more than similar to 100% increase in the power factor at room temperature. Further, defects at various length scales, that include point defects, edge dislocations, and nanosized grains evidenced by electron microscopy (field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM)), result in enhanced phonon scattering which substantially reduces the lattice thermal conductivity to similar to 4.2 W m-1 K-1 at 873 K. Combined with enhanced power factor, a peak ZT value of similar to 0.4 was achieved at 873 K in TiCo0.85Fe0.15Sb0.97Sn0.03. In addition, the microhardness and fracture toughness were found to be enhanced for all of the synthesized samples, falling in the range of 8.3-8.6 GPa and 1.8-2 MPamiddotm-1/2 , respectively. Our results highlight how the combination of band convergence and microstructure engineering in the HH alloy TiCoSb is effective for tuning its thermoelectric performance.

Automated summary

Band engineering is successfully applied to enhance the thermoelectric performance of the p-type TiCoSb half-Heusler compound. The convergence of two valence band maxima increases the density-of-states effective mass and leads to an improved Seebeck coefficient. Sn doping and defects, such as point defects, edge dislocations, and nanosized grains, further enhance the power factor and reduce the lattice thermal conductivity. The combination of band convergence and microstructure engineering in TiCoSb is effective in tuning its thermoelectric performance.