Thermoelectric composite material comprising MXene and method for manufacturing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10886450-B2
Application number	US-201815996706-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2018
Priority date	Dec 18, 2017
Publication date	Jan 5, 2021
Grant date	Jan 5, 2021

Abstract

Disclosed is a thermoelectric composite material includes a thermoelectric material including crystal grains; and a MXene inserted at boundaries of the crystal grains consisting of the thermoelectric material. Accordingly, the thermoelectric composite material may have a reduced thermal conductivity and an increased electrical conductivity. Furthermore, mechanical properties of the thermoelectric composite material may be improved. Thus, the thermoelectric composite material may improve the thermoelectric ability of a thermoelectric module including the same. A method of manufacturing the thermoelectric composite material includes coating MXene on a surface of a thermoelectric material powder including crystal grains; and sintering the thermoelectric material powder coated with the MXene to form a sintered body including the MXene inserted at boundaries of the crystal grains consisting of the thermoelectric material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A thermoelectric composite material, comprising:
a thermoelectric material comprising crystal grains; and
a MXene inserted at boundaries of the crystal grains consisting of the thermoelectric material.

2. The thermoelectric composite material of claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric material includes a material selected from the group consisting of a chalcogenide, an antimonide, a silicide, a half-Heusler compound, an oxide, and combinations thereof.

3. The thermoelectric composite material of claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric material includes a material selected from the group consisting of a Bi—Te compound, a Sb—Te compound, a Bi—Te—Se compound, a Bi—Sb—Te compound, a Bi—Sb—Te—Se compound, and combinations thereof.

4. The thermoelectric composite material of claim 1 , wherein the MXene is an inorganic compound having a two-dimensional shape and is represented by:
M n+1 X n ,
where M represents Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Cr, Mn, Sc, Mo, Nb, Ta or a combination thereof, X represents C, N or a combination thereof, and where n is a natural number of 1 to 3.

5. The thermoelectric composite material of claim 1 , wherein the MXene forms a continuous thin film surrounding the crystal grains.

6. The thermoelectric composite material of claim 1 , wherein the MXene is irregularly disposed along the boundaries of the crystal grains.

7. A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric composite material, the method comprising:
coating MXene on a surface of a thermoelectric material powder comprising crystal grains; and
sintering the thermoelectric material powder coated with the MXene to form a sintered body including the MXene inserted at boundaries of the crystal grains consisting of the thermoelectric material.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the thermoelectric material powder includes a material selected from the group consisting of a chalcogenide, an antimonide, a silicide, a half-Heusler compound, an oxide, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the thermoelectric material powder includes a material selected from the group consisting of a Bi—Te compound, a Sb—Te compound, a Bi—Te—Se compound, a Bi—Sb—Te compound, a Bi—Sb—Te—Se compound, and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the MXene is an inorganic compound having a two-dimensional shape and represented by:
M n+1 X n ,
where M represents Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Cr, Mn, Sc, Mo, Nb, Ta or a combination thereof, X represents C, N or a combination thereof, and n is a natural number of 1 to 3.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein coating the MXene on the surface of the thermoelectric material powder comprises:
mixing and stirring the thermoelectric material powder, the MXene and a solvent to provide a mixture; and
drying the mixture.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the solvent includes an alcohol-based solvent.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein a content of the MXene is present in an amount ranging from 0.01% by weight to 1% by weight based on total weight of the thermoelectric material powder and the MXene.

Assignees

• Korea Inst Sci & Tech

Inventors

• Kim Jin-Sang
• Koo Chong-Min
• Baek Seung-Hyub
• Kim Seong-Keun
• Kang Chong-Yun
• Hong Soon-Man
• Hwang Seung-Sang
• Choi Ji-Won
• Yoon Seok-Jin
• Kim Kwang-Chon
• Baek Kyung-Youl
• Cho Sang-Ho

Classifications

• H10N10/855

  comprising compounds containing boron, carbon, oxygen or nitrogen · CPC title

• H10N10/85 Primary

  Thermoelectric active materials · CPC title

• H10N10/856 Primary

  comprising organic compositions · CPC title

• H10N10/01

  Manufacture or treatment · CPC title

• H10N10/853

  comprising arsenic, antimony or bismuth (H10N10/852 takes precedence) · CPC title