Impact of Zn-doping on the thermoelectric properties of Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 nanostructures synthesized by hydrothermal method

Studies on Zn doping of thermoelectric materials are actively conducted; however, doping of Zn in solution synthesis remains a challenge. In this study, a hydrothermal approach was utilized to synthesize Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 (BTS) and dope with Zn. Zn was successfully incorporated into the BTS structure, and the hot-pressed Zn-doped BTS powder exhibited a layered structure with micrometer-scale crystals. BTS exhibited inherent semiconductor properties, while the Zn-doped sample exhibited degenerate semiconductor characteristics, which affected the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient. Based on the & sigma; and S values, doping with 0.3 mol Zn was determined to be the optimal condition for enhancing the thermoelectric power factor. This study offers important contributions to the development of solution-based doping of BTS thermoelectric materials for energy harvesting and cooling applications.