Rapid low-temperature densification of Ag2Se bulk material: mass transfer through the dissociative adsorption reaction of Ag protrusions and Se saturated vapor

Abstract In materials science, the impact of density on a material’s capabilities is profound. Conventional sintering requires high temperatures and is energy-demanding, propelling the pursuit of less intensive, low-temperature densification methods. Electric field-assisted sintering has recently gained attention for its simplicity and effectiveness, offering a new frontier in low-temperature densification. In this study, dense bulk materials were produced by subjecting monophasic Ag 2 Se powders to electric field-assisted sintering, where a direct current with an average value of 4 A was applied, achieving a peak temperature of 344 K. The novel low-temperature densification mechanism unfolds thus: nanoscale silver protrusions, stimulated by electrical current, engage in a dissociative adsorption reaction with the ambient saturated selenium vapor. This process swiftly engenders the formation of fresh silver selenide (Ag 2 Se) compounds, initiating nucleation and subsequent growth. Consecutively, these compounds seamlessly occupy and expand, perpetually bridging the interstices amidst the powders. In a scant 8 s, the density swiftly surpassed 99%, yielding a bulk material that exhibited a ZT value of 1.07 at 390 K. This investigation not only attains an unparalleled density at low temperatures but also charts a pioneering course for material densification in such conditions.