ACTA

Nanograined n- and p-Type Chalcopyrite CuFeS₂ Prepared by Mechanochemical Synthesis and Sintered by SPS

P. Levinský^a, J. Hejtmánek^a, K. Knížek^a, M. Pashchenko^a, J. Navrátil^a, P. Masschelein^b, E. Dutková^c, P. Baláž^c
^aInstitute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Cukrovarnická 10/112, 162 00, Praha 6, Czech Republic
^bInstitut Jean Lamour, UMR 7198 CNRS - Université de Lorraine, Campus ARTEM, 2 allée André Guinier, BP 50840, 54011 Nancy, France
^cInstitute of Geotechnics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Watsonova 45, 04001 Košice, Slovakia

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Chalcopyrite CuFeS₂, a ternary semiconductor, is an antiferromagnet with a promising thermoelectric potential. Since the thermoelectric efficiency of CuFeS₂ is generally limited by high lattice thermal conductivity, it is highly desirable to lower the thermal conductivity without deterioration of other thermoelectric characteristics. Considering the interconnection between thermal conductivity, magnetic order and grain size in magnetic ceramics, we attempted to produce doped nanostructured chalcopyrite via mechanosynthesis and SPS sintering. We succeeded to prepare both n-and p-type nanostructured ceramics. We discussed the origin of highly depressed thermal conductivity with respect to the grain size and the magnetic properties, and confirm the high technological potential of high-energy milling with respect to thermoelectric potential of CuFeS₂. Thermal conductivity was reduced by 35% compared to standard chalcopyrite. The maximum value of the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT was about 0.2, which is comparable to published data.

DOI:10.12693/APhysPolA.137.904
topics: chalcopyrite, antiferromagnet, nanograin, thermoelectrics