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中国物理学会期刊

基于应变诱导的多导带收敛实现n型SnSe的高热电性能:第一性原理研究

Strain-induced multi-conduction band convergence for enhanced thermoelectric performance in n-type SnSe: A first-principles study

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  • n型单晶SnSe具有本征的低晶格热导率和多能带结构,同时具有环境友好、地壳储量丰富和价格低廉的优势.本文结合第一性原理计算和玻尔兹曼输运理论,研究了在750 K时-6%至6%的b轴应变对SnSe热电性能的影响.对比了常数弛豫时间近似和非常数弛豫时间近似两种方法,结果表明,这两种方法得到的功率因子随应变的变化规律在定性上相似,但常数弛豫时间近似会高估功率因子.基于非常数弛豫时间近似方法的研究结果表明,2%拉伸应变将n型SnSe在a轴方向上的最大功率因子PFxx提升至22.1 μW cm-1 K-2,4%拉伸应变将其在b轴方向上的最大功率因子PFyy提升至19.0 μW cm-1 K-2,相对无应变分别提升了11.9%和58.5%.在4%拉伸应变下,a轴方向上最大热电优值ZTxx提升了40.07%,从2.3增至3.2;b轴方向上最大热电优值ZTyy提升了54.10%,从1.1增至1.6.拉伸应变通过能带收敛有效提高了塞贝克系数,同时保持了较高的电导率,从而协同提升了功率因子与ZT值.本研究表明,b轴拉伸应变能有效改善n型单晶SnSe的热电性能,提升其在热电领域的应用潜力.

     

    n-type single-crystal SnSe intrinsically possesses low lattice thermal conductivity and a multi-band electronic structure, while also being environmentally friendly, earth-abundant, and cost-effective. In this work, the effect of b-axis uniaxial strain ranging from -6% to 6% on the thermoelectric properties of n-type SnSe at 750 K is systematically investigated by combining first-principles calculations with Boltzmann transport theory. Both the constant relaxation time approximation (CRTA) and the energy-dependent relaxation time approximation (EDRTA) are employed to calculate the electrical transport parameters. The EDRTA, with its carrier-concentration-dependent relaxation time (τ ∝ n-1/3) extracted from experimental data via the Seebeck coefficient calibration method, yields results in better agreement with experiments, as evidenced by a smaller root-mean-square deviation compared with CRTA. CRTA is found to significantly overestimate the power factor (PF) and the corresponding optimal carrier concentration. Within the EDRTA framework, a 2% tensile strain increases the maximum PF along the a-axis (PFxx) from 19.7 to 22.1 μW cm-1 K-2, corresponding to an 11.9% enhancement, while a 4% tensile strain enhances the maximum PF along the b-axis (PFyy) from 12.0 to 19.0 μW cm-1 K-2, corresponding to a 58.5% improvement. Band structure analysis reveals that tensile strain induces multi-conduction-band convergence. Under 2% and 4% tensile strains, the minimum energy offsets at the conduction band minimum are reduced to 0.00873 eV and 0.01601 eV, respectively, which are well below the energy convergence criterion ΔE < 2kBT (≈ 0.13 eV at 750 K). Such convergence of the conduction bands leads to an increased density of states effective mass and an improved Seebeck coefficient. Consequently, under 4% tensile strain, the maximum thermoelectric figure of merit ZT reaches 3.2 along the a-axis and 1.6 along the b-axis, corresponding to 40.07% and 54.10% improvements over the unstrained case, respectively. The lattice thermal conductivity, estimated using the Slack model, decreases gradually with increasing tensile strain, further contributing to the ZT enhancement. This work elucidates the physical mechanism by which b-axis tensile strain improves the thermoelectric performance of n-type SnSe through multi-band convergence, and provides the optimal carrier concentration ranges for PF and ZT under various strain conditions: PFxx peaks at carrier concentrations between 2.1 and 4.4×1020 cm-3, while ZTxx reaches its maximum in the range of 2.1 to 7.8×1019 cm-3, offering clear theoretical guidance for experimental optimization of SnSe thermoelectric performance via doping and strain engineering. This study demonstrates that b-axis tensile strain can effectively enhance the thermoelectric performance of n-type SnSe, thereby strengthening its potential for thermoelectric applications.

     

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