0000000000422020
AUTHOR
Jason E. Douglas
SPS-assisted preparation of the Magnéli phase WO2.90 for thermoelectric applications
We describe the preparation and simultaneous consolidation of WO2.90 by spark plasma sintering (SPS). SPS allows for the direct manufacturing of large amounts of consolidated material. Synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction indicates that the material is single phase. Microstructure analysis indicates that the pellet is fully dense, allowing high-temperature thermoelectric properties to be reliably measured. The as-prepared samples of WO2.90 reach a ZT of 0.1 at 1100 K.
Rapid Microwave Preparation of Thermoelectric TiNiSn and TiCoSb Half-Heusler Compounds
The 18-electron ternary intermetallic systems TiNiSn and TiCoSb are promising for applications as high-temperature thermoelectrics and comprise earth-abundant, and relatively nontoxic elements. Heusler and half-Heusler compounds are usually prepared by conventional solid state methods involving arc-melting and annealing at high temperatures for an extended period of time. Here, we report an energy-saving preparation route using a domestic microwave oven, reducing the reaction time significantly from more than a week to one minute. A microwave susceptor material rapidly heats the elemental starting materials inside an evacuated quartz tube resulting in near single phase compounds. The initia…
Enhanced thermoelectric properties of the n-type Magnéli phase WO2.90: reduced thermal conductivity through microstructure engineering
The thermoelectric properties of the Magneli phase WO2.90 were investigated, with special attention to how the thermoelectric performance can be altered by changing its microstructure. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) allowed the direct preparation of large amounts of consolidated material. Adding Ta2O5 to the reaction mixture lead to the formation of solid solutions W1−xTaxO2.90via a concurrent reaction between WO3 and Ta2O5 during the SPS treatment. In addition, micron-sized inclusions containing tungsten surrounded by WOx embedded in a WO2.90 matrix were formed, which act as additional scattering centers. As a result, the thermal conductivity of the Ta-containing samples was reduced by ≈30% …