Abstract
AbstractSilver chalcogenides exhibit exceptional transport properties but face structural instability at high temperatures, limiting their practical applications. Using Ag2Te as a model, it is confirm that silver whisker growth above the phase transition renders Ag2Te unsuitable for thermoelectric applications. Here, the whisker growth mechanism is investigated and propose an inhibition strategy, overcoming a major obstacle in using silver chalcogenides. The presence of highly mobile Ag and lattice strain cause by phase transition are two factors leading to the formation of silver whiskers. Adding a trace amount of Ga inhibits silver whisker growth by forming an immobile Ag‐Ga solid‐solution phase and optimizing thermoelectric performance simultaneously. Consequently, a single leg of Ga‐Ag2Te achieves a conversion efficiency of 2.3% with a ΔT of 300 K and remains whisker‐free after high‐temperature testing. A thermally robust, high‐performance thermoelectric single leg based on liquid‐like silver chalcogenides is successfully developed.
Published Version
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