ZrCoBi based half Heuslers with high thermoelectric conversion efficiency

1. A method of thermoelectric power generation, the method comprising:

converting heat to electricity via the use of a ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material, wherein a thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to 7% at a temperature difference of up to 800 K, wherein the ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material comprises a p-type half-Heusler material having a formula:

ZrCoBi 1-x-y Sn x Sb y ,

where x ranges from 0.01 to 0.25, and y ranges from 0 to 0.2.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to 9% at a temperature difference of 500K.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein x is 0.2 and y is 0.15, wherein an average dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT) of the ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to 0.8 as calculated by an integration method for temperatures between 300 and 973 K.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein an average dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT) of the ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to 0.8 as calculated by an integration method for temperatures between 300 and 973 K.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a peak dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT) of the ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to 1.4 at 973 K.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein x ranges from 0.15 to 0.2 and y is 0.

7. A method of thermoelectric power generation, the method comprising:

converting heat to electricity via the use of a ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material, wherein a thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to 7% at a temperature difference of up to 800 K, and

wherein the ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material comprises an n-type half-Heusler material having a formula:

ZrCo 1-x Ni x Bi 1-y Sb y ,

where x is 0.1 and y is 0.15.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material has an average dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT) of greater than or equal to 0.65 as calculated by an integration method for temperatures between 300 and 973 K.

9. The method of claim 7 , where a peak dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT) of the ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to 1.0 at 973 K.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to about 9% at a temperature difference of 650 K.

11. A method of thermoelectric power generation, the method comprising:

converting heat to electricity via the use of a first ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material comprising a p-type half-Heusler thermoelectric material and a second ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material comprising an n-type half-Heusler thermoelectric material,

wherein the heat is converted to electricity at a thermoelectric conversion efficiency of 10% or greater at a temperature difference of 650 K,

wherein the first ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material and the second ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material are configured in a thermoelectric module comprising:

at least one first leg, wherein the at least one first leg comprises the first ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material; and

at least one second leg, wherein the at least one second leg comprises the second ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material,

wherein the at least one first leg and the at least one second leg are connected thermally in parallel and electrically in series,

wherein the first ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material has a formula:

ZrCoBi 1-x-y Sn x Sb y ,

where x ranges from 0.01 to 0.25, and y ranges from 0 to 0.2; and

wherein the second ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material has a formula:

ZrCo 1-a Ni a Bi 1-b Sb b ,

where a ranges from 0.01 to 0.25, and b ranges from 0 to 0.3.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the module has the thermoelectric conversion efficiency of 10% or greater at a temperature difference of 650 K between the at least one first leg and the at least one second leg.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein a peak dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT) of the first ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to 1.4 at 973 K.

14. The method of claim 11 , where a peak dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT) of the second ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to 1.0 at 973 K.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein a thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the first ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to 9% at a temperature difference of 500 K, and wherein a thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the second ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to about 7% at a temperature difference of 650 K.

16. A method of thermoelectric power generation, the method comprising:

converting heat to electricity via the use of:

a first ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material comprising a p-type half-Heusler thermoelectric material;

a second ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material comprising an n-type half-Heusler thermoelectric material;

or both the first ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material and the second ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material,

wherein the heat is converted to electricity at a thermoelectric conversion efficiency of at least 7%,

wherein the first ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material and the second ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material are configured in a thermoelectric module comprising:

at least one first lea, wherein the at least one first leg comprises the first ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material; and

at least one second leg, wherein the at least one second leg comprises the second ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material wherein the at least one first leg and the at least one second leg are connected thermally in parallel and electrically in series,

wherein the first ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material has a formula:

ZrCoBi 1-x-y Sn x Sb y ,

where x ranges from 0.01 to 0.25, and y ranges from 0 to 0.2; and

wherein the second ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material has a formula:

ZrCo 1-a Ni a Bi 1-b Sb b ,

where a ranges from 0.01 to 0.25, and b ranges from 0 to 0.3.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the thermoelectric conversion efficiency provided via the thermoelectric module is 10% or greater at a temperature difference of 650 K between the at least one first leg and the at least one second leg.