• Kauzlarich, Susan

Abstract

<p>This proposal aims to synthesize and characterization new Zintl Compounds that have applications as thermoelectric materials. Thermoelectrics have the potential to alter the world’s energy landscape by converting waste heat into usable electricity and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. To make this possible, materials with high thermoelectric figure of merit, zT, are needed. The figure of merit depends on the Seebeck coefficient, S, electrical resistivity, r, and thermal conductivity, k. Zintl<br>phases are intermetallics that are well suited for this application, given the rich structural chemistry that can result from a combination of ionic and covalent bonding. The primary challenge in designing a thermoelectric material is to simultaneously improve the three properties that are required for a high figure of merit, a task that is difficult due to the interrelated nature of S, r and the electronic portion of thermal conductivity k. New synthetic methods will be developed for preparing high quality samples with precise control over stoichiometry. Several structure types are selected as good candidates, along with a more general search of 2D layered and 1D chain containing Zintl phases that have the structural features and electronic bonding to be considered promising thermoelectrics.</p>

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• compound
• resistivity
• phase
• layered
• intermetallic
• thermal conductivity