Intercorrelated Relationship Between the Thermoelectric Performance and Mechanical Reliability of Mg₂Si-Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites

Abstract: We fabricated Mg₂Si-based thermoelectric nanocomposites with reduced graphene oxide using ultrasonic-based wet chemical pulverizing-mixing and spark plasma sintering to improve the trade-off relationship between thermoelectric properties and mechanical reliability. The dependence of thermoelectric properties and mechanical reliability on the nanophase morphologies has been systemically investigated, demonstrating the fracture toughness of the nanocomposite with thin reduced graphene oxide significantly increased. Moreover, the introduction of the few-layered reduced graphene oxide with high interface density was more effective in improving the trade-off relationship. This result suggests that an in-depth research on the dependence of the thermoelectric properties and mechanical reliability on the intrinsic properties of the nanophases is required to prepare efficient thermoelectric nanocomposites. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].