Copper selenide as a promising semiconductor for thermoelectric conversion

Abstract

This research aimed to determine the influence of the grain size of copper selenide based materials on the physicochemical properties with particular emphasis on their thermoelectric properties. Copper selenide materials were obtained via hydrothermal technique. Obtained powder were densified by the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) method. The morphology of the obtained materials was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, SEM, observation. The X-ray diffraction, XRD, measurements were carried out for phase analysis. The investigations of the influence of size and phase composition on the transport properties, i.e.: electrical conductivity, the Seebeck coefficient, and the thermal conductivity were carried out in the various temperature range. Based on the theoretical and experimental research, it was being shown, that copper selenide nanomaterial exhibits improved thermoelectric parameters. The decrease of the lattice thermal conductivity effects on higher Seebeck coefficient.