Realizing High Thermoelectric Performance in n-Type Se-Free Bi_(2)Te_(3)Materials by Spontaneous Incorporation of FeTe_(2)Nanoinclusions

Bi_(2)Te_(3)-based materials have drawn much attention from the thermoelectric community due to their excellent thermoelectric performance near room temperature.However,the stability of existing n-type Bi_(2)(Te,Se)_(3)materials is still low due to the evaporation energy of Se(37.70 kJ mol^(-1))being much lower than that of Te(52.55 kJ mol^(-1)).The evaporated Se from the material causes problems in interconnects of the module while degrading the efficiency.Here,we have developed a new approach for the high-performance and stable n-type Se-free Bi_(2)Te_(3)-based materials bymaximizing the electronic transport while suppressing the phonon transport,at the same time.Spontaneously generated FeTe_(2)nanoinclusions within the matrix during the melt-spinning and subsequent spark plasma sintering is the key to simultaneous engineering of the power factor and lattice thermal conductivity.The nanoinclusions change the fermi level of the matrix while intensifying the phonon scattering via nanoparticles.With a fine-tuning of the fermi level with Cu doping in the n-type Bi_(2)Te_(3)-0.02FeTe_(2),a high power factor of∼41×10^(-4)Wm^(-1)K^(-2)with an average zT of 1.01 at the temperature range 300-470 K are achieved,which are comparable to those obtained in n-type Bi_(2)(Te,Se)_(3)materials.The proposed approach enables the fabrication of high-performance n-type Bi_(2)Te_(3)-based materials without having to include volatile Se element,which guarantees the stability of the material.Consequently,widespread application of thermoelectric devices utilizing the n-type Bi_(2)Te_(3)-based materials will become possible.

Mechanical properties of CNT reinforced hybrid functionally graded materials for bioimplants

The hybrid functionally graded materials(FGM) of hydroxyapatite(HA), stainless steel 316L(SS316L) and carbon nanotubes(CNT) were synthesized for biomedical implants. Three different types of FGM were produced by the combination of SS316 L and CNT to reinforce HA in discrete layers of FGM. In the first type of FGM, concentration of SS316 L was varied from 10% to 40%(mass fraction) with an increment of 10% to reinforce micro HA. In the second type of FGM, 0.5%(mass fraction) functionalized CNT was added by maintaining the rest of composition as that of the first type of FGM. In the third type of FGM, mixture of micro and nano HA(mass ratio1:1) was used, keeping rest of composition similar to the second type of FGM. All types of FGM were subjected to uniaxial compaction and sintered by pressureless sintering technique at similar compaction and sintering parameters. The results show that the densification is enhanced with the addition of CNT and nanocrystalline HA in the FGM. Hardness and fracture toughness increase in both FGM reinforced with CNT, but the increase of the hardness and fracture toughness are more pronounced in FGM with micro and nanocrystalline HA.

Ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of SrZrO_3-modified Bi_(0.5)Na_(0.5)TiO_3 lead-free ceramics

The lead-free SrZrO3-modified Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3(BNT-SZ100 x, with x=0-0.15) ceramics were fabricated by a conventional solid-state reaction method. The effects of SZ addition on BNT ceramics were investigated through X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), ferroelectric and electric field-induced strain characterizations. XRD analysis revealed a pure perovskite phase without any traces of secondary phases. Ferroelectric and bipolar field induced-strain curves indicated a disruption of ferroelectric order upon SZ addition into BNT ceramics. A maximum value of remnant polarization(32 μC/cm2) and piezoelectric constant(102 pC/N) was observed at 5%(mole fraction) of SZ. Maximum value of the electric field-induced strain(Smax=0.24%) corresponding to normalized strain(Smax/Emax= d*33= 340 pm/V) was obtained at BNT-SZ9.