Obtaining the Thermoelectric Material Cu2Se by the Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis Method

Using the method of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis in the combustion mode, a product based on the α-Cu₂Se phase was obtained from a 2Cu + Se powder mixture. The effect of synthesis conditions on the composition of the combustion product was studied, and the unit cell parameters of the synthesized phases were determined. It has been established that, as a result of combustion of pressed 2Cu+Se mixtures at an Ar pressure of 0.5–1.5 MPa, a product is formed containing two modifications of Cu₂Se—the low-temperature monoclinic α-Cu₂Se and high-temperature cubic β-Cu_1.8Se phases. Combustion of a 2Cu+Se mixture of bulk density at an Ar pressure above 0.5 MPa yielded a single-phase product, the monoclinic α-Cu₂Se phase.