Synthesis and Characterization of Thermoelectric Co2XSn (X = Zr, Hf) Heusler Alloys

In this work, we report the results of an experimental investigation on the synthesis, structure, microstructure, mechanical, electrical conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient of Co2XSn (X = Zr, Hf) alloys. In both the alloys, the main constituent is a full Heusler-type compound that coexists with small amounts of secondary phases. Both alloys show a rather high Vickers hardness (around 900 HV) and an indentation fracture toughness typical of ceramics (around 2 MPam(1/2)). The electronic transport properties of the two alloys were measured for the first time. The temperature dependence of both the Seebeck coefficient and the electrical conductivity of the two alloys shows a change in correspondence of the Curie temperature. The Seebeck coefficient reaches a constant plateau, while the electrical conductivities show a transition from metallic to semiconductor behavior. As a consequence, almost constant values of the power factor have been obtained for the power factor above the Curie temperature, which is promising for an efficient exploitation of thermal gradients of several hundreds of degree in waste heat harvesting applications. Finally, on the basis of results from this work and from the literature, the effect of the substitution of the X element on the electronic transport properties in the series Co2XSn (X = Ti, Zr, Hf) is discussed.