Incorporation of MoS2 nanosheets in CoSb3 matrix as an efficient novel strategy to enhance its thermoelectric performance

The nanocomposite approach is considered as an effective way to improve the thermoelectric properties of bulk materials and we have exploited it by simultaneous though independent tackling of the electron and phonon transports. In the present study, through the strategy of anchoring the CoSb3 nanoparticles on the 2-dimensional nanosheets of MoS2, we demonstrate a controlled interplay of the newly created CoSb3/MoS2 interfaces in nanocomposites of varying concentration of MoS2 via significant enhancement of the phonon scattering without deterioration of electron transport. A concurrent occurrence of low energy carrier filtering on account of the interfacial potential barrier helps in beneficial manipulation of grain to grain carrier transport. The dimensionless figure of merit ZT maximizes to 0.53 at 600 K for the CoSb3/MoS2 nanocomposite containing 3 wt% of MoS2, 4-fold increase over the pristine CoSb3 in the 300–600 K range. This study paves the way towards improvement of the thermoelectric performance of p-type CoSb3 using 2D MoS2 as an interfacial additive.