Facile synthesis of monodisperse Cu 3 SbSe 4 nanoparticles and thermoelectric performance of Cu 3 SbSe 4 nanoparticle-based materials

In this study, large-scale synthesis of Cu 3 SbSe 4 and Cu 3 Sb 0.98 Sn 0.02 Se 4 nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution was achieved through a rapid-injection route. These nanoparticles showed a monodisperse and quasi-spherical morphology. The Cu 3 SbSe 4 and Cu 3 Sb 0.98 Sn 0.02 Se 4 nanoparticle-based bulk materials were then prepared by hot-pressed sinter of the nanoparticles, and their thermoelectric performances were systematically studied. Due to the reduced lattice thermal conductivity from enhanced phonon scattering at the grain interfaces of the bulk materials, the maximum ZT value of the Cu 3 Sb 0.98 Sn 0.02 Se 4 bulk materials reached 0.50 at 575 K.