Thermophysical Properties of Chalcogenide Semiconductors

Chalcogenide semiconductors—compounds formed by group VI elements (S, Se, Te) combined with metals or metalloids—exhibit a rich array of thermophysical behaviours that underpin their use in thermoelectrics, phase-change memory and infrared optics. Key parameters include thermal conductivity, which governs heat dissipation; specific heat capacity, which reflects the energy storage per unit mass; and phase stability as a function of temperature and pressure. In layered or low-dimensional chalcogenides, strong anisotropy in bonding leads to directional dependence of heat transport and pronounced phonon scattering at interfaces. Phase transitions—ranging from congruent melting to reversible amorphous–crystalline switching—are exploited in non-volatile memory devices, where rapid and repeatable thermal cycling is essential. At the atomic scale, phonon–phonon interactions and point-defect scattering dictate thermal diffusivity, while large anharmonicity in bonding can suppress thermal conductivity without degrading electronic performance. Understanding these interrelated properties demands a combination of in situ calorimetry, high-resolution diffraction and first-principles modelling, enabling optimisation of composition and microstructure for applications from solid-state refrigeration to infrared detectors.

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Thermophysical Properties of Chalcogenide Semiconductors publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in thermophysical properties of chalcogenide semiconductors across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Thermal conductivity: A measure of a material’s ability to conduct heat, typically expressed in watts per metre-kelvin (W m⁻¹ K⁻¹).

Specific heat capacity: The heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of a substance by one kelvin, reflecting its energy storage capability.

Phase transition: A change in the structural or electronic state of a material (for example, crystalline to amorphous) occurring at defined temperature or pressure conditions.

Differential thermal analysis (DTA): An experimental technique that records temperature differences between a sample and a reference during controlled heating to detect endothermic or exothermic events.

Incongruent melting: A process in which a compound melts into a liquid of different composition than the original solid, often leading to peritectic reactions in multi-component systems.

References

1. Study of Crystal Characterization and Chemical Interaction in the Ternary System Ho-Sb-Te. East European Journal of Physics (2024).
2. Synthesis conditions, crystal structure and magnetic properties of Mn–Tm–Se selenides. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Physical-Technical Series (2022).
3. Relative magnetoresistance in polycrystalline In–Cu chalcogenides under high pressure up to 50 GPa. Journal of Physics Conference Series (2018).