Thermoelectric performance of SnS and SnS–SnSe solid solution

Abstract

Solid solution is a potential way to optimize thermoelectric performance for its low thermal conductivity compared to those of the constituent compounds because of the phonon scattering from disordered atoms. Tin(II) sulfide (SnS) shows analogous band structure and electrical properties with tin selenide (SnSe), which was the motivation for investigating the thermoelectric performance of SnS and SnS–SnSe solid solution system. SnS compound and SnS_1−xSe_x (0 < x < 1) solid solution were fabricated using the melting method and they exhibited anisotropic thermoelectric performance along the parallel and perpendicular to the pressing directions. For the SnS compound, the maximum zT_∥ value is 0.19 at 823 K along the parallel to pressing direction, which is higher than that along the perpendicular to the pressing direction (zT_⊥ = 0.16). The zT values of SnS_0.5Se_0.5 and SnS_0.2Se_0.8 were higher than those of the SnS compound and a maximum zT value of 0.82 was obtained for SnS_0.2Se_0.8 at 823 K, which is more than four times higher than that of SnS.