Design of a Thermoelectric Material Using the CALPHAD Technique: Thermodynamic Reassessment of the Al-Sb-Zn System
The β-Sb3Zn4 intermetallic compound, one of the most promising thermoelectric materials in the mid-1990s, has attracted much interest due to its high thermoelectric performance in the intermediate temperature range. To improve the thermoelectric properties of the compound β-Sb3Zn4, Al doping is an effective method. Therefore, accurate theoretical analysis of the Al-Sb-Zn system is essential for the design of such thermoelectric materials. In this work, the Al-Sb-Zn system was reassessed by means of the calculation of phase diagram (CALPHAD) technique. A set of self-consistent thermodynamic parameters was obtained and can be used to extrapolate to related high-order systems. Some phase equilibria and thermochemical properties can be predicted using the present thermodynamic description.