Issue 35, 2020

Symmetry and asymmetry in thermoelectrics

Abstract

Thermoelectric technology has been investigated extensively as a kind of green energy, which can realize the direct conversion between heat and electricity. To increase the thermoelectric power efficiency, developing highly effective strategies for improving thermoelectric performance through synergistically optimizing electrical and thermal transport properties is urgently required. Recently, the manipulation of symmetry and asymmetry in thermoelectrics has been developed to enhance performance dramatically, which shows great potential in the thermoelectric field. In this perspective, we summarized these advanced achievements obtained through utilizing symmetry and asymmetry in thermoelectrics. Electrical transport properties can be improved effectively through increasing symmetry, which contributes to a higher carrier mobility and larger valley degeneracy. Asymmetry could induce lower lattice thermal conductivity due to the larger anharmonicity caused by hierarchical chemical bonding; similarly, lattice thermal conductivity can be effectively suppressed through reducing the symmetry. Finally, a discussion of future possible strategies is provided, aiming at further enhancing the thermoelectric performance through utilizing symmetry and asymmetry in thermoelectrics.

Graphical abstract: Symmetry and asymmetry in thermoelectrics

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
10 7 2020
Accepted
27 7 2020
First published
30 7 2020

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2020,8, 12054-12061

Symmetry and asymmetry in thermoelectrics

Z. Huang and L. Zhao, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2020, 8, 12054 DOI: 10.1039/D0TC03270K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements