Investigation on the Thermoelectric Performance of Defect Engineered P Type Magnesium Antimonide for Mid Temperature Applications

Abstract

Magnesium-based Zintl compounds are widely recognized as promising newlinethermoelectric materials, particularly effective in the room to mid-temperature range. newlineTraditional Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric compounds contain highly toxic and newlineexpensive tellurium, which restricts their practical application and compromises longterm newlinedurability. Therefore, magnesium antimonide (Mg3Sb2)-based materials were newlineselected as the matrix to develop a high-performance thermoelectric conversion newlineefficiency. To improve the thermoelectric figure of merit of Mg3Sb2, multiple newlineapproaches have been investigated, including interface engineering, nanostructuring, newlinepoint defect scattering, band modulations, and incorporation of resonant states through newlinesingle and co-doping in Mg3Sb2. newlineChapter 1 provides a brief description of the consumption of energy, newlinehighlighting its development, history, and applications. This also encompasses the newlinefundamentals of thermoelectric technology, which holds significant promise for newlinecontributing to global energy sustainability. Furthermore, the latest developments in newlinethermoelectric compounds for improving the zT have been addressed. The newlinefundamental thermoelectric parameters that influence the overall figure of merit along newlinewith the strategies for its enhancement have been discussed. Moreover, this chapter newlinehighlights the justification for selecting Mg3Sb2-based materials and unique features newlinefrom their inception to modern investigations in a variety of thermoelectric newlineapplications according to experimental evidence. The conclusion section highlights newlinethe scope, objectives, and unique features of the present thesis work newline