Joon Chul Kwon

Synthesis and Thermoelectric Properties of Half-Heusler Zr-Ni-Sn Alloy Processed by Mechanically Alloying and Hot Pressing

Recent search for novel thermoelectric materials has revealed a new class of compounds with half-Heusler structure as good candidates for higher performance thermoelectric conversion [1-2], since the structure was first found [3]. The unit cell of the half-Heusler with a space group F4¯ 3m consists of 4 interpenetrating cubic lattices. The crystallographic sites (0,0,0) and (1/4, 1/4, 1/4) are occupied by two different transition metals, the (1/2, 1/2, 1/2) site is occupied by Sn, Sb, or Bi, and the site (3/4, 3/4, 3/4) is empty [4,5]. Candidates with this structure for the investigation would be categorized into the combination of (Ti/Zr/Hf)(Co/Ni/Pt)(Sb/Sn/Bi) [4-6].

Mechanical Alloying and Thermoelectric Properties of CoSb3 Skutterudite

In an effort to synthesize homogenized single phase d-CoSb3, this study considers the mechanical alloying (MA) of elemental Co and Sb powders using a nominal stoichiometric composition followed by hot pressing. Single phase, undoped CoSb3 skutterudites were successfully produced by vacuum hot pressing using MA powders without subsequent annealing. Phase transformations during mechanical alloying, powder annealing, and hot pressing were systematically investigated using XRD and SEM. Thermoelectric properties were measured and compared with the results of similar studies. Temperature dependences were also evaluated, and their correlations to phase transformation were examined.

Energy efficiency alloy design in PSN-PMN-PZT ceramic system for piezoelectric transformer application

To enhance high power characteristics for piezoelectric transformer, an alloy design approach in PZT base ceramic system was considered. Various Zr/Ti ratio compositions in 0.03Pb(Sb0.5Nb0.5)O3- 0.03Pb(Mn1/3Nb2/3)O3-(0.94-x)PbTiO3-xPbZrO3 (0.445x0.475 mol)[PSN - PMN - PZT] system were synthesized by the conventional bulk ceramic processing technique. To improve high power characteristics at their morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) composition of PSN-PMN-PZT system, various spectra of Zr/Ti ratio were systematically experimented, and their effects on the subsequent piezoelectric properties and dielectric properties for high power piezoelectric transformer application were investigated using an impedance analyzer and a laser vibrometer. Microstructure and phase information were characterized using X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). When the Zr/Ti ratios were 0.475/0.465, the mechanical quality factor and electromechanical coupling factor were shown to reach the maximum, indicating that this alloy design can be a feasible composition for high power transformer.

Effects of La2O3 on the Piezoelectric Properties of Lead-Free (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3 Piezoelectric Ceramics

In an approach to acclimate ourselves to the recent ecological consciousness trends, a lead free piezoelectric material, bismuth sodium barium titanate (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3 (BNBT), was considered as an environment-friendly alternative to the PZT system. A perovskite BNBT was synthesized by the conventional bulk ceramic processing technique.La2O3 as a dopant was incorporated into the BNBT system up to 0.025 mol, and the doping effects on subsequent piezoelectric and dielectric properties were systematically investigated. In the case of La2O3 addition, the formation of grain boundary coherency was remarkably increased, and the sintered density was increased with increasing La2O3 contents. Piezoelectric and dielectric properties were shown to have the maximum value at 0.02 mol of La2O3 addition. La3+ ions were believed to act as a softener in the BNBT system and to enhance dielectric and piezoelectric properties in this study.

Electronic transport properties of In z Co 4 Sb 12-y Te y skutterudites

In_zCo₄Sb_12-yTe_y skutterudites were prepared by encapsulated induction melting and their electronic transport properties were investigated. Single phase delta-CoSb₃ was successfully obtained by the encapsulated induction melting and subsequent heat treatment at 823 K for 5 days. Te atoms acted as electron donors by substituting Sb atoms. The Hall coefficient and the Seebeck coefficient showed negative values, which confirms that In_zCo₄Sb_12-yTe_y skutterudites are n-type semiconductors. Electronic transport properties were considerably affected by Te doping rather than In filling. Carrier concentration was in the range of 7 times 10¹⁹ to 4 times 10²⁰ cm^-3, and carrier mobility was 2 to 22 cm²/Vs. The Seebeck coefficient negatively decreased and the electrical resistivity decreased by Te doping and In filling. The thermal conductivity was considerably reduced by doping as well as filling due to the phonon scattering, which is responsible for the lattice thermal conductivity reduction.

Effects of CeO2 on the Piezoelectric Properties of PSN-PMN-PZT Composition under Various Alternating Electric Fields

0.03Pb(Sb0.5Nb0.5)O3-0.03Pb(Mn1/3Nb2/3)O3-(0.94-x)PbTiO3-xPbZrO3 ceramics doped with CeO2 were synthesized by conventional bulk ceramic processing technique. Phases analysis, microstructures and piezoelectric properties were investigated as a function of CeO2 contents (0.03, 0.05, 0.1 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7wt%). Microstructures and phases information were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Relative dielectric constant (K33 T) and coupling factor (kp) were obtained from the resonance measurement method. Both K33 T and kp were shown to reach to the maximum at 0.1wt% CeO2. In order to evaluate the stability of resonance frequency and effective electromechanical coupling factor (Keff) as a function of CeO2 addition under strong electric field, the variation of resonance and anti-resonance frequency were also measured using a high voltage frequency response analyzer(FRA5096) under various alternating electric fields from 10V/mm to 80V/mm. It was shown that effective electromechanical coupling factor was increased by increasing the CeO2 additions.

Thermoelectric Properties of Nanostructured CoSb3 Synthesized by Mechanical Alloying

Undoped CoSb3 powders were synthesized by mechanical alloying of elemental powders using a nominal stoichiometric composition. Nanostructured, single-phase skutterudite CoSb3 was successfully produced by vacuum hot pressing using as-milled powders without subsequent annealing. Phase transformations during synthesis were investigated using XRD, and microstructure was observed using SEM and TEM. Thermoelectric properties in terms of Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and figure of merit were systematically measured and compared with the results of analogous studies. Lattice thermal conductivity was reduced owing to increasing phonon scattering in nanostructured CoSb3, leading to enhancement in the thermoelectric figure of merit. Mechanical Alloying associated with vacuum hot pressing technique offers an alternative potential processing route for the production of skutterudites.

Effect of Fe Doping on Thermoelectric Properties of Mechanically Alloyed CoSb3

Fe doped skutterudite CoSb3 with a nominal composition of FexCo1-xSb12 (0≤x≤2.5) have been synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA) of elemental powders, followed by vacuum hot pressing. Phase transformations during mechanical alloying and vacuum hot pressing were systematically investigated using XRD. Single phase skutterudite was successfully produced by vacuum hot pressing using as-milled powders without subsequent annealing. However, second phase in the form of marcasite structure FeSb2 was found to exist in case of x≥2, suggesting the solubility limit of Fe with Co in this system. Thermoelectric properties as functions of temperature and Fe contents were evaluated for the hot pressed specimens. Fe doping up to x=1.5 with Co in FexCo4-xSb12 appeared to increase thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) and the maximum ZT was found to be 0.78 at 525K in this study.

Effects of Y2O3 on the Piezoelectric Properties of PSN-PMN-PZT Composition under Various Alternating Electric Fields

0.03Pb(Sb0.5Nb0.5)O3-0.03Pb(Mn1/3Nb2/3)O3-(0.94-x)PbTiO3-xPbZrO3 ceramics doped with Y2O3 were synthesized by conventional bulk ceramic processing technique. Phases analysis, microstructures and piezoelectric properties were investigated as a function of Y2O3 contents (0.03, 0.05, 0.1 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 wt.%). Microstructures and phases information were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Relative dielectric constant (K33 T) and coupling factor (kp) were obtained from the resonance measurement method. Both K33 T and kp were shown to reach to the maximum at 0.1wt.% Y2O3. In order to evaluate the stability of resonance frequency and effective electromechanical coupling factor (Keff) as a function of Y2O3 contents under strong electric field, the variation of resonance and anti-resonance frequency were also measured using a high voltage frequency response analyzer(FRA5096) under various alternating electric fields from 10V/mm to 80V/mm. It was shown that the effective electromechanical coupling factor was stabilized along with increasing Y2O3 contents.

Effect of Zn addition on thermoelectric properties of Zn/sub 4/Sb/sub 3/ synthesized by direct hot pressing

Powder metallurgy was used to produce polycrystalline specimens of single phase /spl epsi/-Zn/sub 4/Sb/sub 3/ and two-phase specimens of /spl epsi/-Zn/sub 4/Sb/sub 3/ (majority phase) and Zn. The effect of excess Zn addition to the stoichiometry of Zn/sub 4/Sb/sub 3/ was investigated on the thermoelectric properties as well as mechanical properties in the alloy system. The room-temperature thermoelectric properties of our single phase Zn/sub 4/Sb/sub 3/ alloys are comparable to those reported by other researchers on samples prepared by hot pressing of ingot melted alloy powders. It is shown that the addition of Zn enhances the mechanical properties while sacrificing the thermoelectric properties.