Thermoelectric properties of large-scale Zn 3 P 2 nanowire assemblies

Gram quantities of both unfunctionalized and 1,4-benzenedithiol (BDT) functionalized zinc phosphide (Zn 3 P 2 ) nanowire powders, synthesized using direct reaction of zinc and phosphorus, were hot-pressed into highly dense pellets (≥98% of the theoretical density) for the determination of their thermoelectric performance. It was deduced that mechanical flexibility of the nanowires is essential for consolidating them in randomly oriented fashion into dense pellets, without making any major changes to their morphologies. Electrical and thermal transport measurements indicated that the enhanced thermoelectric performance expected of individual Zn 3 P 2 nanowires is still retained within large-scale nanowire assemblies. A maximum reduction of 28% in the thermal conductivity of Zn 3 P 2 resulted from nanostructuring. Use of nanowire morphology also led to enhanced electrical conductivity in Zn 3 P 2 . Interface ...

Lance Brockway, Venkata Vasiraju, Hasti Asayesh-Ardakani, Reza Shahbazian-Yassar and Sreeram Vaddiraju

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