Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhenxue Zhang, Mikdat Gurtaran, Xiaoying Li, Hio-Ieng Un, Yi Qin, Hanshan Dong
Summary: In this study, N-type and P-type BiTe-based thin films were deposited on silicon, glass, and Kapton HN polyimide foil using magnetron sputtering technique. The morphology, microstructure, and phase constituents of the thin films were characterized by SEM/EDX, XRD, and TEM. The electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient were measured by an advanced in-plane test system. The power output (open-circuit voltage and electric current) of the thin films was measured at different temperature gradients using a custom-built apparatus. The impact of deposition parameters and the dimensions of the thin films on the power output were investigated to optimize the thin-film flexible TE device for thermal energy harvesting.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Liangliang Yang, Jiangtao Wei, Yuanhao Qin, Lei Wei, Peishuai Song, Mingliang Zhang, Fuhua Yang, Xiaodong Wang
Summary: Thermoelectric technology offers advantages such as quiet operation, zero emissions, and long life, but its large-scale application is limited by the lower thermoelectric performance factor (ZT). By growing Cu2Se thin films using magnetron sputtering, researchers achieved high conductivity and ZT values. This work lays the foundation for further research on nano-thin-film thermoelectrics.
Review
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Qihao Zhang, Kangfa Deng, Lennart Wilkens, Heiko Reith, Kornelius Nielsch
Summary: This review examines the development of micro-thermoelectric devices, exploring progress in device design, integration, and performance, as well as the potential applications of the technology in cooling, power generation, and sensing. These devices offer faster response time, higher resolution, and greater power density compared to their commercial counterparts, making them crucial for highly integrated electronic devices, the Internet of Things, and flexible and wearable technology.
NATURE ELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Nattharika Theekhasuk, Rachsak Sakdanuphab, Pilaipon Nuthongkum, Prayoonsak Pluengphon, Adul Harnwunggmoung, Mati Horprathum, Pichet Limsuwan, Aparporn Sakulkalavek, Pisan Sukwisute
Summary: This study investigated the effects of vacuum annealing on the thermoelectric properties of Cu-doped Sb2Te3 films. The substitution of Cu on the Sb site induces electronic states or impurity peaks of Sb2Te3, leading to an increase in carrier concentration with increasing Cu dopant concentration. However, the crystallite size and Seebeck coefficient of the Cu-doped Sb2Te3 films decreased as the Cu dopant concentration increased.
CURRENT APPLIED PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dongli Qin, Feng Pan, Jie Zhou, Zibo Xu, Yuan Deng
Summary: A method based on FET is proposed to optimize the thermoelectric properties of bismuth telluride thin films, allowing control over Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, and carrier type. The experiments showed promising results in achieving high power factor and ZT values in both N-type and P-type. Furthermore, a N-P pair device was constructed by applying different gate voltages on the thin films, and Te-doped bismuth telluride thin films demonstrated adjustable sensitivity in a thin film thermocouple.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
K. A. Morgan, I Zeimpekis, Z. Feng, D. Hewak
Summary: The optimization of sputtered bismuth telluride and germanium telluride at 300 degrees C showed enhanced performance of thermoelectric generators on polyimide substrates. Post-annealing, the power factor of BiTe films increased up to 2.2 μW/cmK(2) and GeTe increased by over 5 orders of magnitude to 7.6 μW/cmK(2). A flexible thermoelectric generator was fabricated using alternating annealed BiTe and GeTe strips, achieving 7 nW of output power per pair at a temperature difference of 20 degrees C.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Farbod Amirghasemi, Sam Kassegne
Summary: This study investigated the surface topography, crystalline structure, and electrical properties of sputtered thin films of antimony telluride and bismuth telluride on silicon and polymer substrates. The results show that increasing the RF sputtering power significantly improved the crystallinity, conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient of the thin films. The study provides insights into the effects of sputtering power and substrate on the material properties of thermoelectric materials.
JOURNAL OF ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
C. M. Furqan, Jacob Y. L. Ho, H. S. Kwok
Summary: This article reports the growth of GaN thin film on low-cost electronic substrate using magnetron sputtering method. Various characterization techniques were used to explore the optical and structural properties, revealing the effects of different growth parameters on the film properties. XRD studies, raman spectroscopy, as well as mu-PL and optical transmittance experiments provided insights into the thin film properties under different growth conditions.
SURFACES AND INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Abhishek Ghosh, Mujeeb Ahmad, Prashant Bisht, Bodh Raj Mehta
Summary: This study investigates the use of hot energy carrier filtering to improve thermoelectric properties in Sb2Te3 thin film samples containing size-selected gold nanoparticles. The results show that samples with the minimum variance in nanoparticle size exhibit higher Seebeck coefficient and power factor, with a slight decrease in electrical conductivity. Furthermore, techniques such as Kelvin probe force microscopy and conducting atomic force microscopy were utilized to understand interface properties and charge transport.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Fanzheng Meng, Yingqi Chen, Guoxiang Wang, Andriy Lotnyk
Summary: This work focuses on the fabrication and thermoelectric properties of Sb-GeO2 and Sb-TiO2 nanocomposite thin films. In the Sb-GeO2 nanocomposite, large rhombohedral Sb grains are formed, contributing to conductivity elevation but reducing Seebeck coefficient and power factor. In contrast, effective inhibition of Sb crystallization caused by TiO2 results in smaller and more homogeneous distribution of Sb grains in the annealed Sb-TiO2 thin film, leading to excellent thermoelectric properties.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Samer A. Haidar, Yuan Gao, Yifan He, Jane E. Cornett, Baoxing Chen, Nigel J. Coburn, Colm Glynn, Marc T. Dunham, Kenneth E. Goodson, Nian Sun
Summary: TE n-type bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) and p-type antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) films were successfully grown on SiO2/Si substrates via radio frequency magnetron sputtering in this study. The characterization of crystal structures and TE properties showed promising Seebeck coefficients and power factors under different deposition conditions and heat treatment conditions. The fabrication of a micro-scale thermoelectric energy generator (μTEG) using separate n-type and p-type wafers was demonstrated.
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Ying Yang, Yanxiang Zhang, Mufu Yan
Summary: Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are attractive energy conversion devices due to their fuel flexibility, environmental friendliness, and promising energy conversion efficiency. However, the high operating temperature of SOFCs poses challenges in stability, sealing integrity, and safety. Lowering the operating temperature to 600°C or lower is an important research topic. Magnetron sputtering is gaining attention as a thin-film preparation technology for electrolyte thin films with high stability and performance at lower temperatures. This comprehensive review analyzes various electrolyte preparation methods, focusing on magnetron sputtering technology for oxygen-ion conducting electrolyte thin films. The effects of processing parameters on the microstructures and properties of the thin films, as well as the relevant interfaces and full SOFCs, are discussed. Perspectives and directions for developing high-performance SOFCs with thin-film electrolytes prepared by magnetron sputtering technology are presented.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Davood Zahiri Rad, Seyed Abdolkarim Sajjadi, Hamta Mansouri, Yasaman Saberi
Summary: The effect of annealing process on the morphology and thermoelectric properties of Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 thin films was investigated. The results showed that annealing treatment led to a decrease in grain size, an increase in carrier concentration, and a decrease in Seebeck coefficient. However, the power factor of annealed thin films was significantly higher.
JOURNAL OF NANOPARTICLE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
M. Cervena, R. Cerstvy, T. Dvorak, J. Rezek, P. Zeman
Summary: Binary W-Zr thin-film alloys with different metastable structures were prepared using DC magnetron sputtering. The microstructure and properties of the films were found to be related to the individual metastable structures prepared. The hardness of the films varied with the elemental composition, with W-rich films showing enhanced hardness and reduced residual stress, while amorphous W-Zr films exhibited low surface roughness and metallic glass features.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Siavash Bakhtiarnia, Saeed Sheibani, Alain Billard, Eric Aurry, Mohammad Arab Pour Yazdi
Summary: Nanoporous BiVO4 thin films were successfully deposited using reactive magnetron sputtering, exhibiting good crystal structure, morphology, and photocatalytic properties. The films showed the highest porosity and lowest bandgap under specific conditions, demonstrating excellent photocatalytic activity.
TRANSACTIONS OF NONFERROUS METALS SOCIETY OF CHINA
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Shuo Chen, Tianxiang Liu, Zhuanghao Zheng, Muhammad Ishaq, Guangxing Liang, Ping Fan, Tao Chen, Jiang Tang
Summary: This study focuses on the development of Sb2Se3-based photocathodes in photoelectrochemical water splitting, highlighting various architectures and engineering efforts to improve the efficiency of solar-to-hydrogen conversion. The study also discusses future research directions in the field of Sb2Se3-based photocathodes.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Muhammad Azam, Yan-Di Luo, Rong Tang, Shuo Chen, Zhuang-Hao Zheng, Zheng-Hua Su, Ali Hassan, Ping Fan, Hong-Li Ma, Tao Chen, Guang-Xing Liang, Xiang-Hua Zhang
Summary: An organic chloride salt (DEA(Cl)) has been introduced for the first time to improve the film quality and device performance of Sb-2(SSe)(3) solar cells. The modified Sb-2(SSe)(3) solar cells exhibit improved crystalline morphology and electrical characteristics, achieving a higher efficiency.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rong Tang, Shuo Chen, Zhuang-Hao Zheng, Zheng-Hua Su, Jing-Ting Luo, Ping Fan, Xiang-Hua Zhang, Jiang Tang, Guang-Xing Liang
Summary: This study reports an effective interface engineering approach using rapid thermal annealing to suppress nonradiative recombination near the Sb2Se3/CdS heterojunction, improving the performance of thin-film solar cells.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aihua Zhong, Aifa Sun, Bowei Shen, Huimin Yu, Yue Zhou, Yangquan Liu, Yizhu Xie, Jingting Luo, Dongping Zhang, Ping Fan
Summary: In this study, the fine-tuning of the H-2 gas detection range of the AlGaN/GaN HEMT devices was achieved by adjusting the Pt gate thickness. Results showed that the change in gate thickness had a significant impact on the response and response time of the devices.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Umar Farooq, Muhammad Ishaq, Usman Ali Shah, Shuo Chen, Zhuang-Hao Zheng, Muhammad Azam, Zheng-Hua Su, Rong Tang, Ping Fan, Yang Bai, Guang-Xing Liang
Summary: Hybrid lead-halide perovskite materials have impressive optoelectronic properties, but the toxic nature of lead and instability issues have led researchers to explore low-toxic substitutes like antimony and bismuth ternary halide perovskites. These new materials are considered promising for next-generation photovoltaic technology due to their stability and high absorption coefficient. However, they still face challenges such as large bandgaps and dimer phases, requiring further research and improvement.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yue-Xing Chen, Ruo-yang Li, Tao Wang, Bushra Jabar, Fu Li, Guang-xing Liang, Zhuang-hao Zheng, Ping Fan
Summary: The study demonstrates that through rational composition and structural manipulations, high power factor of p-type Te-excess Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 thin films can be achieved. Presence of Te nanoparticles at BST grain boundaries and composition regulation contribute to optimized carrier concentration and enhanced Seebeck coefficient, resulting in significantly improved thermoelectric performance.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guangxing Liang, Mingdong Chen, Muhammad Ishaq, Xinru Li, Rong Tang, Zhuanghao Zheng, Zhenghua Su, Ping Fan, Xianghua Zhang, Shuo Chen
Summary: An effective absorber layer growth engineering is developed to grow high-quality Sb2Se3 films for thin-film solar cells. This engineering effort significantly improves the device efficiency by mitigating open-circuit voltage deficit, thanks to the repaired defects and improved charge transport.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dong-Wei Ao, Wei-Di Liu, Yue-Xing Chen, Meng Wei, Bushra Jabar, Fu Li, Xiao-Lei Shi, Zhuang-Hao Zheng, Guang-Xing Liang, Xiang-Hua Zhang, Ping Fan, Zhi-Gang Chen
Summary: The study demonstrates that the thermal diffusion method is an effective approach to fabricate high-performance and applicable flexible Te-embedded Bi2Te3-based thin films.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Hongjiao Wang, Lilin Wu, Bai Xue, Fang Wang, Zhongkuan Luo, Xianghua Zhang, Laurent Calvez, Ping Fan, Bo Fan
Summary: Researchers have developed a new method to synthesize a lithium-compatible sol of the sulfide electrolyte Li3PS4 and prepared a controllable Li3PS4 artificial SEI layer on lithium-metal electrodes by spin-coating. The layer stabilizes the lithium/electrolyte interface, improving the cycling stability and rate capacity of the batteries.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Adeel Abbas, Mohammad Nisar, Zhuang Hao Zheng, Fu Li, Bushra Jabar, Guangxing Liang, Ping Fan, Yue-Xing Chen
Summary: Recent studies have shown that Na incorporation improves the thermoelectric performance of SnTe materials by modifying the electronic band structure and introducing dislocations and kink planes. This study demonstrates that Na doping enhances the power factor and reduces the thermal conductivity, resulting in a significantly higher ZT value for SnTe-based materials, making them a promising candidate for high-temperature thermoelectric applications.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xin-Yu Mao, Xiao-Lei Shi, Liang-Chuang Zhai, Wei-Di Liu, Yue-Xing Chen, Han Gao, Meng Li, De-Zhuang Wang, Hao Wu, Zhuang-Hao Zheng, Yi-Feng Wang, Qingfeng Liu, Zhi-Gang Chen
Summary: In this study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were introduced into Pb/I co-doped n-type polycrystal SnSe to improve its thermoelectric and mechanical properties. The MWCNTs acted as bridges to enhance electron carrier transport between SnSe grains, resulting in increased electrical conductivity and power factor. As nanoinclusions in the SnSe matrix, the MWCNTs formed dense interfaces and provided extra heat-carrying phonon scattering centers, leading to reduced lattice thermal conductivity and high ZT. Additionally, the MWCNTs served as binders to improve the mechanical properties of SnSe.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shuo Chen, Tianxiang Liu, Mingdong Chen, Muhammad Ishaq, Rong Tang, Zhuanghao Zheng, Xuejin Li, Xvsheng Qiao, Guangxing Liang
Summary: This research synthesized a compact, large-grained, preferentially [hk1]-oriented Sb2Se3 absorber layer through a reaction process, and introduced indium ions to regulate the properties of the CdS buffer layer. These engineering efforts significantly improved the performance of the photocathode, providing a new avenue for achieving efficient solar hydrogen evolution.
Article
Thermodynamics
Liping Xiang, Yuting Fang, Ke Xu, Zhuanghao Zheng, Jie Dong, Yangsu Xie
Summary: The thermal transport in amorphous/low-crystallized PI composite fibers was studied using TET and SET techniques, revealing a high thermal conductivity due to oriented chain alignment and inter-chain hydrogen bonds. The structural domain size of the fibers was determined based on thermal reffusivity model, indicating the potential importance of Rg in determining the thermal conductivity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
(2022)
