Solvothermal synthesis of wire-like SnSbTe with an enhanced thermoelectric performance

Nanostructured tellurides have attracted increasing attention in thermoelectric applications for waste heat recovery and cooling devices. Here, we report on the synthesis of wire-like Sn x Sb 2 Te 3+ x ( x = 0, 0.02 and 0.05) nanoparticles using elemental precursors in EG. The enhanced thermoelectric performance was achieved in alloyed samples due to the increase of carrier population in heavy valence band valleys by incorporating Sn 2+ at the Sb 3+ sublattice, enabling the simultaneous realization of low electrical resistivity along with a high Seebeck coefficient as well as the decline of thermal conductivity. Thus a boosted power factor and low thermal conductivity lead to the highest ZT value of 0.58 at 150 °C in the Sn 0.02 Sb 2 Te 3.02 sample. Our research offers a general wet-chemical route for the preparation of one-dimensional nanomaterials and probably promotes the practical thermoelectric applications of Sb 2 Te 3 -based materials at low temperatures. Wire-like Sn x Sb 2 Te 3+ x ( x = 0.00-0.05) nanoparticles were synthesized using elemental precursors in EG. An enhanced power factor and reduced thermal conductivity were realized in the Sn 0.02 Sb 2 Te 3.02 nanobulk sample as a result of the newly generated defect centers of (Sn′ Sb + h&z.rad;).