Development of High-Performance Thermoelectric Materials Based on Lead Chalcogenides

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25420699
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Physical properties of metals/Metal-base materials
• Research Institution: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Ohta Michihiro 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, 省エネルギー研究部門, 主任研究員 (50443172)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 熱電材料 / 未利用熱エネルギーの活用 / 層状構造 / ナノ構造 / 配向制御 / 熱電変換デバイス / 金属物性・材料 / 焼結

Outline of Final Research Achievements

High-performance thermoelectric materials and module based on lead chalcogenides (PbX (X：S, Se, Te)) were developed by controlling their structures at all length scales from crystal atomic to nano, micro, and milliscopic. The layered chalcogenides with layers of PbX and bismuth chalcogenide (PbX-Bi2X3) were synthesized from elemental Pb, Bi, and X. In sintered compacts of PbX-Bi2X3, the layered crystal structures and highly oriented microtextures enhance the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT. In milli-scale thermoelectric module, the sintered compacts of PbTe having nanostructure has been used for thermoelectric legs. The power generation of this module has been demonstrated at high temperature.

Free Research Field

材料工学、金属物性・材料、熱電変換