First-principles study of structural disorder, site preference, chemical bonding and transport properties of Mg-doped tetrahedrite

Abstract

Tetrahedrite-based ($\textrm{Cu}_{12}\textrm{Sb}_{4}\textrm{S}_{13}$) materials are candidates for good thermoelectric generators due to their intrinsic, very low thermal conductivity and high power factor. One of the current limitations is virtual absence of tetrahedrites exhibiting n--type conductivity. In this work, first-principles calculations are carried out to study Mg-doped tetrahedrite, $\textrm{Mg}_{x}\textrm{Cu}_{12}\textrm{Sb}_{4}\textrm{S}_{13}$ with possibility of predicting n--type material in mind. Different concentrations and modifications of the structure are investigated for their formation energies, preferred site occupation and change in local environment around dopants. Mg atoms tend to occupy 6b site, while introduced excess Cu prefers 24g site. Introduction of elements in those sites display different effect on nearby rattling Cu(2) atom. Topological analysis shows that tetrahedrite exhibits ionic, closed-shell bonds with some degree of covalency. Majority of the bonds weakens with increasing content of Mg; structure becomes increasingly less stable, which is also expressed by global instability and bond strain indexes. Achieving n--type conductivity was predicted by the calculations for structures with $x>1.0$, however increasing enthalpy of formation and lack of stability might suggest limit of solubility and difficulties in obtaining those experimentally.