Combustion Synthesis: A Rapid Way for Preparing Bulk Cu<sub>2</sub>SnSe<sub>3</sub> Thermoelectric Materials

The fabrication of bulk thermoelectric materials usually involves multi-step processes with considerable time and energy consumption. Here we applied a direct and rapid way of gas pressure assisted combustion synthesis to produce thermoelectric materials. As an example, bulk samples of Cu 2 SnSe 3 had been prepared and their thermoelectric properties were investigated. Thermal analysis indicated that the Cu 2 SnSe 3 samples kept stable up to 850 K. The un-doped Cu 2 SnSe 3 showed ZT of 0.51 at 773 K, and by doping with Ag and In the ZT could be much increased to 1.42 at 823 K. The gas pressure assisted combustion synthesis method might provide a rapid way to directly produce bulk thermoelectric materials.