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Electro-migration of Zinc during current-assisted pressure sintering of β-Zn4Sb3 – effect of process parameters and its influence on the thermoelectric properties
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 July 2011
Abstract
Compaction of β-Zn4Sb3 was carried out by current-assisted short term sintering under pressure (STS) using different material and process parameters. Surface Seebeck mapping (PSM) of the compacted specimens (along the uniaxial pressing direction) shows a wide gradation ranging from ∼40–180 μV/K due to electro-migration of Zinc along the current direction. The wide distribution of S corresponds to a mixture of Zn-Sb phases [1] which arise depending on the extent of Zinc migration during the STS process. Variation in the material and process parameters (average particle size, heating rate, compaction time/temperature) results in different spatial distribution of S. Measurements of electrical (σ), thermal (κ) conductivities and Seebeck (S) coefficients between room temperature and 523 K were carried out on two specimens having different average S values and distributions as observed by the PSM. The results indicate an increase in the lattice thermal conductivity (κL) and subsequent lower ZT in the specimens compared to the reported values for β-Zn4Sb3.
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- Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011
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