A magneto-thermoelectric with a high figure of merit in topological insulator Bi88Sb12
2025

High thermoelectric performance in Bi88Sb12

Sample size: 4 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Pan Yu, He Bin, Feng Xiaolong, Li Fan, Chen Dong, Burkhardt Ulrich, Felser Claudia

Primary Institution: Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, Dresden, Germany

Hypothesis

Can a small magnetic field enhance the thermoelectric performance of topological materials?

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that applying a magnetic field to Bi88Sb12 significantly enhances its thermoelectric figure of merit.

Supporting Evidence

  • The maximum thermoelectric figure of merit zT achieved was 1.7 at 180K and 0.7T.
  • The large magneto-Seebeck effect is attributed to the ultrahigh mobility and linear band dispersion of the material.
  • The study fills a gap for high-performance thermoelectric materials below 300K.

Takeaway

Using a magnetic field can make certain materials better at turning heat into electricity, and this study shows that it works really well for a material called Bi88Sb12.

Methodology

The researchers grew single crystals of Bi88Sb12 and measured their thermoelectric properties under varying magnetic fields and temperatures.

Limitations

The study primarily focuses on a specific temperature range and may not generalize to all topological materials.

Statistical Information

Confidence Interval

±0.2

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/s41563-024-02059-9

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