Neutron-irradiated effect on the thermoelectric properties of Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric leg

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and technology Vol. 55; no. 8; pp. 3080 - 3087
• Main Authors: Zhao, Huanyu, Liu, Kai, Xu, Zhiheng, Liu, Yunpeng, Tang, Xiaobin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-08-2023; Elsevier; 한국원자력학회
• Subjects: Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3; Bi2Te2.7Se0.3; Electrical conductivity; Neutron irradiation; Thermoelectric; 원자력공학; Bi2Te2.7Se0.3; Neutron irradiation; Thermoelectric; Electrical conductivity; Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3
• ISSN: 1738-5733; 2234-358X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.net.2023.04.036

Thermoelectric (TE) materials working in radioisotope thermoelectric generators are irradiated by neutrons throughout its service; thus, investigating the neutron irradiation stability of TE devices is necessary. Herein, the influence of neutron irradiation with fluences of 4.56 × 1010 and 1 × 1013 n/cm2 by pulsed neutron reactor on the electrical and thermal transport properties of n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 and p-type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 thermoelectric alloys prepared by cold-pressing and molding is investigated. After neutron irradiation, the properties of thermoelectric materials fluctuate, which is related to the material type and irradiation fluence. Different from p-type thermoelectric materials, neutron irradiation has a positive effect on n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 materials. This result might be due to the increase of carrier mobility and the optimization of electrical conductivity. Afterward, the effects of p-type and n-type TE devices with different treatments on the output performance of TE devices are further discussed. The positive and negative effects caused by irradiation can cancel each other to a certain extent. For TE devices paired with p-type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 and n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 thermoelectric legs, the generated power and conversion efficiency are stable after neutron irradiation.