Microstructure and thermoelectric properties of CuInSe2/In2Se3 compound

Abstract

CuInSe2 powders were synthesized by solvothermal method, and then the CuInSe2/In2Se3 bulk samples were fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. To investigate the phase composition, the powders were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The microstructures of the powders and bulk samples were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The transportation of the electronic properties and thermal conductivity were measured at room temperature to 700 K. According to the results, the CuInSe2 powders appeared in flower-like patterns which ranged from 3 [Formula: see text]m to 6 [Formula: see text]m. CuInSe2 powders were synthesized at 180[Formula: see text]C with a chalcopyrite structure. The Seebeck coefficient increased significantly in composite thermoelectric materials up to [Formula: see text] at 623 K. The thermal conductivity of the sample significantly decreases from the room temperature to 700 K. The CuInSe2 bulk composite by solvothermal method achieves the highest ZT value of 0.187 at 700 K.