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Enhancing power generation sustainability of thermoelectric pillars by suppressing diffusion at Bi-Sb-Te/Sn electrode interface using crystalline Co-P coatings.

Authors :
Liu, Shuang
Ma, Limin
Zhen, Cheng
Li, Dan
Wang, Yishu
Jia, Qiang
Guo, Fu
Source :
Applied Energy. Dec2023, Vol. 352, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Bismuth telluride-based thermoelectric (TE) devices were widely used in waste heat recovery due to their high thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT), but the severe diffusion between Sn-based solder and TE pillar generated porous and brittle Sn-Te intermetallic compound (IMC), which seriously restricted the reliable service of devices. Ni-based coating was used but the thick Ni-Te IMC also impaired the properties of TE pillars. In this work, the crystalline Co-P coating was inserted between the p-type TE material Bi 0.5 Sb 1.5 Te 3 and the solder by electrodeposition, and the power generation sustainability of the TE pillar were significantly improved, and the mechanism was revealed. The microstructural characterization proved that the Co-P coating could effectively resist the diffusion of active Sn, Bi, Sb, Cu atoms. Co-P coating would provide support for the structural integrity and performance sustainability of TE pillars. It was worth noting that an ultrathin CoTe 2 IMC layer was formed between the Co-P coating and the Bi-Sb-Te pillar, which was much thinner than the Ni-Te IMC layer reported in the literature. This indicated that Co-P only consumed little thermoelectric elements, but also a good metallurgical bond was formed between the Co-P and the Bi-Sb-Te. After aging at 423 K for 150 h, the maximum output power and average Seebeck coefficient of the TE pillar without coating dropped significantly by 74% and 34%, respectively, and the internal resistance rose by 67%. Remarkably, the maximum output power and average Seebeck coefficient of the TE pillar protected by the Co-P coating only decreased by 14% and 5%, respectively, and the internal resistance only increased by 6%. [Display omitted] • Co-P coating showed a remarkable effect on the sustainability of TE power generation. • Co-P coating could effectively resist the diffusion of active Sn, Bi, Sb, Cu atoms. • An ultrathin CoTe 2 IMC layer was formed between the Co-P coating and the TE pillar. • Co-P coating consumed less thermoelectric elements than Ni-based coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
03062619
Volume :
352
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Applied Energy
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
173415466
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121997