DFT and post-DFT studies of metallic MXY3-type compounds for low temperature TE applications

Abstract

In this paper, thermoelectric properties of carbon and nitrogen based twenty metallic antiperovskites MXY3 (M=Al, Ga, Ir, Mg, Pd, Pt, Rh; X=C, N; Y=Mn, Ni, Sc, Ti, Cr, Fe) using ab-initio density functional theory and post-DFT Boltzmann's techniques are investigated. The electronic properties of these compounds are also discussed. We find high values of Seebeck coefficient and small values of electronic thermal conductivity for AlCTi3, AlNSc3, AlCNi3, AlNTi3, GaCCr3 and MgCNi3 between -0.25 and 0.25 eV chemical potential. These results show high dimensionless figure of merit in metallic materials and therefore, we predict these materials can be potential candidates for low temperature thermoelectric applications. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.