Enhanced thermoelectric performance of SnSe based composites with carbon black nanoinclusions

Abstract

Recently, a single crystalline SnSe and its sodium doped compound are reported to have an ultralow thermal conductivity and a high thermoelectric figure of merit. However, the highest thermoelectric figure of merit for polycrystalline SnSe-based materials is not larger than 1. In this study, we report a high thermoelectric figure of merit 1.21 at 903 K for poly-crystalline SnSe, realized by incorporating a proper proportion of carbon black as nano-inclusions. The exceptional performance arises from the enhanced power factor, coming from an increased electrical conductivity at high temperatures.