Ag₂S–Ag Nanocomposites: A Bottom-Up Approach to Enhance Thermoelectric Power Factor at Near Room Temperature

Year : 2026 | Volume : 04 | Issue : 01 | Page : 40 55
By

Anish Kumar,

  1. , Department of Mechanical engineering, BIT, Sindri, Jharkhand, India

Abstract

The intrinsic ductility, low toxicity, and naturally occurring abundance of silver sulphide (Ag₂S) have made it a potential thermoelectric material in recent years. However, high electrical resistance severely limits its practical application. Here, we present a thorough analysis of how metallic Ag nanoinclusions affect the structural, electrical, and thermoelectric characteristics of Ag₂S nanocomposites made using a simple bottom-up polyol approach. (Ag₂S)₁₋ₓAgₓ nanocomposites with an Ag content ranging from 0 to 26.1% were produced by controlling the inclusion of Ag nanoparticles by adjusting the proportion of sulphur precursor. X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement, FESEM-EDX, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are used in structural and phase investigations to confirm the coexistence of monoclinic α-Ag₂S and face-centered cubic Ag phases with uniform interfacial distribution.A semiconductor-to-metal transition controlled by percolative charge transport through Ag-rich grain boundaries is observed together with a consistent decrease in resistivity with increasing Ag concentration, according to electrical transport measurements. Interestingly, for modest amounts of Ag nanoinclusion, improved Seebeck coefficients close to room temperature are seen, which is explained by low-energy charge carrier filtering at semiconductor–metal contacts. The composite comprising approximately 20.1% Ag achieves a maximum figure of merit ZT = 0.0029 at 325 K and an optimised thermoelectric power factor of 19.53 μW·m⁻¹·K⁻². These findings show that Ag nanoinclusion offers a practical means to separate electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient in Ag₂S, creating a feasible route toward mechanically sound, ecologically safe thermoelectric materials that function close to ambient temperature.

Keywords: Ag₂S nanocomposites, Ag nano inclusions, thermoelectric materials, Seebeck coefficient, carrier filtering, electrical transport, power factor.

[This article belongs to International Journal of Electro-Mechanics and Material Behaviour ]

How to cite this article: Anish Kumar. Ag₂S–Ag Nanocomposites: A Bottom-Up Approach to Enhance Thermoelectric Power Factor at Near Room Temperature. International Journal of Electro-Mechanics and Material Behaviour. 2026; 04(01):40-55.
How to cite this URL: Anish Kumar. Ag₂S–Ag Nanocomposites: A Bottom-Up Approach to Enhance Thermoelectric Power Factor at Near Room Temperature. International Journal of Electro-Mechanics and Material Behaviour. 2026; 04(01):40-55. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ijemb/article=2026/view=238779

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Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 04
Issue 01
Received 24/02/2026
Accepted 07/03/2026
Published 25/03/2026
Publication Time 29 Days

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