Effects of introducing MXene on thermoelectric properties of Cu2Se alloys

Nano-second-phase dispersion usually improves the thermoelectric properties of thermoelectric materials through energy filtering effects and phonon scattering effects. In this paper, MXene was introduced as a new nano second phase material into the Cu2Se alloy bulks prepared by the hydrothermal method and the vacuum hot-pressing method. The microstructure, electrical and thermal transport properties of the samples were studied, and the results showed that the introduction of MXene can not only optimize its electrical transport properties, but also significantly suppress its thermal conductivity, thereby effectively improving its thermoelectric properties. Overall, the maximum ZT value of the Cu2Se + 0.20 mol % MXene sample reached 1.77 at 923 K, which was 30 % higher than that of the pristine Cu2Se sample.