Sandeep K. Pundir; Sukhvir Singh; B. Sivaiah; Rajesh Kumar; Ajay Dhar
Abstract
Thermoelectric properties of n-type bismuth telluride and its nanocomposite reinforced with different concentration of multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are reported. Nanocomposites of bismuth telluride with MWCNTs were synthesized by using high energy ball milling followed by spark plasma sintering ...
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Thermoelectric properties of n-type bismuth telluride and its nanocomposite reinforced with different concentration of multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are reported. Nanocomposites of bismuth telluride with MWCNTs were synthesized by using high energy ball milling followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS). MWCNTs reinforced nanocomposites of bismuth telluride resulted improvement in its figure of merit ZT from 0.76 (for Bi2Te3) to 0.85 (for Bi2Te3 + 2%MWCNTs) at 473K temperature. Thermoelectric parameters of nanocomposites of Bi2Te3 were characterized by Laser Flash Technique. The improvements found in ZT value may be due to decrease in thermal conductivity of the nanocomposites. Concentration of MWCNTs in bismuth telluride leads to dampening the phonon propagation with addition to the interface scattering of phonons from phase boundaries as well as grain boundaries which leads to decrease in thermal conductivity.
Ankur Jain; Pragya Jain; Shivani Agarwal; Paola Gislon; Pier Paolo Prosini; I.P. Jain
Abstract
Magnesium hydride is a promising material for hydrogen storage due to its high storage capacity i.e.7.6wt%. But its high stability i.e. high desorption temperature (~350? o C) limits its practical application towards hydrogen economy. Moreover the kinetics is also too slow even at high temperatures. ...
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Magnesium hydride is a promising material for hydrogen storage due to its high storage capacity i.e.7.6wt%. But its high stability i.e. high desorption temperature (~350? o C) limits its practical application towards hydrogen economy. Moreover the kinetics is also too slow even at high temperatures. Composite formation with Zr based laves phase alloys, especially ZrCr2 family, is an effective method to improve the hydriding properties of MgH2. This work presents the synthesis, structural, morphological, and hydrogenation properties of Mg-x wt% ZrCrMn composites. Both phases i.e. Mg & ZrCrMn remain their presence after milling and several hydriding cycles as well. SEM results suggest the homogeneous distribution of alloy particles on Mg matrix. Pressure composition temperature (PCT) analysis shows a reduction in desorption temperature down to 250 o C for these composites. TG experiments suggest a total hydrogen capacity of 5.9% and 4.35% for x =25, 50 in Mg-x wt% ZrCrMn composites respectively. The enthalpy of hydride formation is also calculated using Van’t Hoff plots, which is found similar to the parent material i.e. MgH2. A remarkable enhancement in the kinetics of hydrogen absorption / desorption is reported here by forming these composites.
