Enhanced thermoelectric performance of CuGaTe2 based composites incorporated with nanophase Cu2Se

Abstract

We investigate the thermoelectric properties of CuGaTe2/xCu2Se composites in a moderate temperature range. The results indicate that the introduction of Cu2Se remarkably lowers the thermal conductivity of the composite system. Especially, the thermal conductivity of CuGaTe2/3 vol% Cu2Se decreases to 0.54 W m−1 K−1 at 859 K, which allows its ZT to reach 1.2 at 834 K.