Impact of Cu-Site Dopants on Thermoelectric Power Factor for Famatinite (Cu3SbS4) Nanomaterials

ACS Citation

Daniel, J.E.; Watkins, E.; Jensen, M.S.; Benton III, A.; Rao, A.; Bhattacharya, S.; Anderson, M.E. Impact of Cu-Site Dopants on Thermoelectric Power Factor for Famatinite (Cu3SbS4) Nanomaterials. Electron. Mater. 2025, 6 (3), 10. DOI: 10.3390/electronicmat6030010

Abstract

Famatinite (Cu3SbS4) is an earth-abundant, nontoxic material with potential for thermoelectric energy generation applications. Herein, rapid, energy-efficient, and facile one-pot modified polyol synthesis was utilized to produce gram-scale quantities of phase-pure famatinite (Cu2.7M0.3SbS4, M = Cu, Zn, Mn) nanoparticles (diameter 20–30 nm) with controllable and stoichiometric incorporation of transition metal dopants on the Cu-site. To produce pellets for thermoelectric characterization, the densification process by spark plasma sintering was optimized for individual samples based on thermal stability determined using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Electronic transport properties of undoped and doped famatinite nanomaterials were studied from 225–575 K, and the thermoelectric power factor was calculated. This is the first time electronic transport properties of famatinite doped with Zn or Mn have been studied. All famatinite samples had similar resistivities (>0.8 mΩ·m) in the measured temperature range. However, the Mn-doped famatinite nanomaterials exhibited a thermoelectric power factor of 10.3 mW·m−1·K−1 at 575 K, which represented a significant increase relative to the undoped nanomaterials and Zn-doped nanomaterials engendered by an elevated Seebeck coefficient of ∼220 µV·K−1 at 575 K. Future investigations into optimizing the thermoelectric properties of Mn-doped famatinite nanomaterials are promising avenues of research for producing low-cost, environmentally friendly, high-performing thermoelectric materials.

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Electronic Materials

Publication Date

8-6-2025

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