Sprinkled with power: How impurities enhance a thermoelectric material at the atomic level

Magnesium silicide (Mg₂Si) is a particularly promising thermoelectric material with a high "figure of merit" (ZT) -- a measure of its conversion performance. Though scientists previously noted that doping Mg₂Si with a small amount of impurities improves its ZT by increasing its electrical conductivity and reducing its thermal conductivity, the underlying mechanisms behind these changes were unknown -- until now.

In a recent joint study published as a featured article in Applied Physics Letters, scientists from Tokyo University of Science (TUS), the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), and Shimane University, Japan, teamed up to uncover the mysteries behind the improved performance of Mg₂Si doped with antimony (Sb). Dr Masato Kotsugi from TUS, who is corresponding author of the study, explains their motivation: "Although it has been found that Sb impurities increase the ZT of Mg₂Si, the resulting changes in the local structure and electronic states that cause this effect have not been elucidated experimentally. This information is critical to understanding the mechanisms behind thermoelectric performance and improving the next generation of thermoelectric materials."

But how could they analyze the effects of Sb impurities on Mg₂Si at the atomic level? The answer lies in extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES), as Dr Masato Kotsugi and Mr Tomoyuki Kadono, who is first author of the study, explain: "EXAFS allows us to identify the local structure around an excited atom and has strong sensitivity toward dilute elements (impurities) in the material, which can be precisely identified through fluorescence measurements. On the other hand, HAXPES lets us directly investigate electronic states deep within the bulk of the material without unwanted influence from surface oxidation." Such powerful techniques, however, are not performed using run-of-the-mill equipment. The experiments were conducted at SPring-8, one of the world's most important large X-ray synchrotron radiation facilities, with the help of Dr Akira Yasui and Dr Kiyofumi Nitta from JASRI.

The scientists complemented these experimental methods with theoretical calculations to shed light on the exact effects of the impurities in Mg₂Si. These theoretical calculations were carried out by Dr Naomi Hirayama of Shimane University. "Combining theoretical calculations with experimentation is what yielded unique results in our study," she says.

The scientists found that Sb atoms take the place of Si atoms in the Mg₂Si crystal lattice and introduce a slight distortion in the interatomic distances. This could promote a phenomenon called phonon scattering, which reduces the thermal conductivity of the material and in turn increases its ZT. Moreover, because Sb atoms contain one more valence electron than Si, they effectively provide additional charge carriers that bridge the gap between the valence and conduction bands; in other words, Sb impurities unlock energy states that ease the energy jump required by electrons to circulate. As a result, the electrical conductivity of doped Mg₂Si increases, and so does its ZT.

This study has greatly deepened our understanding of doping in thermoelectric materials, and the results should serve as a guide for innovative materials engineering. Dr Tsutomu Iida, lead scientist in the study, says: "In my vision of the future, waste heat from cars is effectively converted into electricity to power an environment-friendly society." Fortunately, we might just be one step closer to fulfilling this dream.