Issue 39, 2021

Intrinsically ultralow thermal conductive inorganic solids for high thermoelectric performance

Abstract

Thermoelectric materials which can convert heat energy to electricity rely on crystalline inorganic solid state compounds exhibiting low phonon transport (i.e. low thermal conductivity) without much inhibiting the electrical transport. Suppression of phonons traditionally has been carried out via extrinsic pathways, involving formation of point defects, foreign nanostructures, and meso-scale grains, but the incorporation of extrinsic substituents also influences the electrical properties. Crystalline materials with intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity (κlat) provide an attractive paradigm as it helps in simplifying the complex interrelated thermoelectric parameters and allows us to focus largely on improving the electronic properties. In this feature article, we have discussed the chemical bonding and structural aspects in determining phonon transport through a crystalline material. We have outlined how the inherent material properties like lone pair, bonding anharmonicity, presence of intrinsic rattlers, ferroelectric instability, weak and rigid substructures, etc. influence in effectively suppressing the heat transport. The strategies summarized in this feature article should serve as a general guide to rationally design and predict materials with low κlat for potential thermoelectric applications.

Graphical abstract: Intrinsically ultralow thermal conductive inorganic solids for high thermoelectric performance

Article information

Article type
Feature Article
Submitted
13 feb 2021
Accepted
26 mrt 2021
First published
26 mrt 2021

Chem. Commun., 2021,57, 4751-4767

Intrinsically ultralow thermal conductive inorganic solids for high thermoelectric performance

M. Dutta, D. Sarkar and K. Biswas, Chem. Commun., 2021, 57, 4751 DOI: 10.1039/D1CC00830G

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