Enhancement of thermoelectric performance of Mg₂Sn single crystals via lattice-defect engineering

Abstract

Thermoelectric (TE) power generation, a potential clean power technology, has attracted significant attention owing to the recent development of high-performance TE materials. We focused on Mg₂Sn and aimed to improve its TE performance by preparing single crystals (SCs) and introducing lattice defects. In this paper, experimental results on crystal structure analysis, microstructures, and TE properties are presented. It is demonstrated that the TE performance of Mg₂Sn SCs can be superior to that of Mg₂Sn polycrystals via lattice-defect engineering.