Thermoelectric materials for energy recovery

Transverse thermoelectric devices can overcome the low efficiency and complex manufacturing processes associated with longitudinal thermoelectric generators. Here, thermoelectric transport in molybdenum disilicide is investigated, finding that is an ideal transverse thermoelectric material without a magnetic field.

Thermoelectric devices enable heat-electricity conversion, but achieving a large Nernst effect typically requires strong magnetic fields. Here, the authors demonstrate that YbMnBi₂, with its unique band topology and magnetic order, exhibits a remarkably high anomalous Nernst thermopower among magnetic materials, offering a promising route for efficient transverse thermoelectric applications.

The authors propose a matrix plainification strategy to eliminate lattice vacancies in the Cu2Se matrix of the Cu2Se/SnSe composites, resulting in obvious improvement in carrier mobility and power factor, obtaining a high figure of merit of 3.3.

The origins of increased lattice thermal conductivity in Cu-defected Cu_2-x(S, Se) remain unknown. Here, neutron diffraction performed on Cu defect-controlled Cu_2-xS shows that the anharmonicity can be tuned through Cu defects.

The authors obtain the TiCoSb-based single-crystals with a dimension exceeding 1 cm, leading to an extraordinary enhancement in electron mobility and consequently, an average power factor of 37 W cm⁻¹ K⁻² in the Nb-doped TiCoSb single-crystal.

The authors optimize the in-plane thermoelectric performance of n-type SnSe by crystal symmetry modification. In particular, they find that Te and Mo alloying continuously enhances the crystal symmetry, thereby increasing the carrier mobility.

Ion implantation is a widely used technique to add defects into low dimensional materials to tune their properties. Here, the thermoelectric properties of scandium nitride films were improved by implanting helium ions

The authors find a self-optimized contact resistivity in Sb/MgAgSb. After 100-day in air aging, the thermoelectric device can achieve 8.1% efficiency and 0.41 W/cm² power density, highlighting its potential for long-term heat harvesting.

The authors report a wet-chemical selenization-based anisotropy optimization to control the orientation of the Ag₂Se thin film, achieving a power factor of 30.8 μW cm⁻¹ K⁻² in the thin film and a normalized power density of 1.8 μW cm⁻² K⁻² in the device.

The authors explore a lithography-like technique in roll-to-roll processing for high-throughput manufacturing of flexible thin-film micro-patterns. They introduce a sputtering-co-evaporation method that enhances both patterning and performance of Bi-Sb-Te-based thermoelectrics.

The anomalous Nernst effect is a key for transverse thermoelectric applications. Here, the authors show an intense performance improvement of the anomalous Nernst effect via hybrid actions with the off-diagonal Seebeck effect in artificial materials.

The authors identify an ideal thermoelectric barrier layer by exploiting distinct chemical reaction activities and diffusion behaviors during sintering and operation, achieving 11% module efficiency at 723 K with enhanced long-term stability.

Authors propose an entropy engineering strategy to realize the carrier-phonon decoupling in SrTiO₃-based perovskite thermoelectrics, reducing the lattice thermal conductivity nearly to the amorphous limit and improving the weighted mobility.

A three-dimensional spiral architecture is used to exploit both thermoelectric and piezoelectric properties of Bi₂Te₃ films to make a combined temperature and pressure sensor in a single material, with applications such as electronic skin.

The conversion between longitudinal heat flow and transverse charge current is a promising energy harvesting technology. Here, the authors show the large transverse thermoelectric effect induced by the mixed-dimensionality of Fermi surfaces.

Pyroelectric energy harvesting has received increasing attention due to its ability to convert low-grade waste heat into electricity. Here, authors report an enhanced thermoelectric coupling BNT-BZT-xGaN pyroelectric energy harvester by facilitating resonance vibration between Ga and Ti, O atoms.

Thermoelectric devices have received significant attention for energy generation owing to their unique advantages over traditional heat engines. Here, the authors developed a well performing stretchable and self-healable iono thermoelectric material by optimizing the thermophoresis of protons in a polymer complex PEDOT:PAAMPSA:PA polymer.

Flexible thermoelectric generators can use body heat to power electronic wearables but are often limited by a trade-off between flexibility and output performance. Here, authors demonstrate a scalable, lightweight, elastic, and high-performing network-based Ag2Se thermoelectric generator.

Light and flexible thermoelectric generators operating at room temperature are highly desirable for wearable microelectronics. Here, flexible thermoelectric composites comprising semiconducting Bi₂Te₃ particles and conductive polymers exhibit a high output power within a small temperature window around room temperature.

Finding efficient photothermoelectric materials remains critical to the development of clean and renewable energy conversion technologies. Here, authors prepare a silver nanostructure film/carbon nanotube film heterojunction with excellent photothermal and photoelectric conversion performance.