Issue 48, 2015

Tetrahedrites as thermoelectric materials: an overview

Abstract

Tetrahedrites are natural earth-abundant minerals consisting of environmentally-friendly elements of copper and sulphur. Recently, research has been focused on the natural and synthetic minerals of tetrahedrite materials for thermoelectric applications. The thermoelectric figure of merit zT of around unity at ∼723 K for many doped and natural tetrahedrite materials in the past 2–3 years was determined and this value is comparable to conventional p-type TE materials. In this review, a brief history of tetrahedrite materials is followed by information about its crystal structure and chemical bonding, electronic band structure and transport properties. Different synthesis approaches have been summarized. Also, this review outlines the effect of different doping elements on the thermoelectric properties of tetrahedrite materials, and the natural mineral tetrahedrite that can be used as thermoelectric materials.

Graphical abstract: Tetrahedrites as thermoelectric materials: an overview

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
14 ago 2015
Accepted
18 nov 2015
First published
26 nov 2015

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2015,3, 12364-12378

Tetrahedrites as thermoelectric materials: an overview

R. Chetty, A. Bali and R. C. Mallik, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2015, 3, 12364 DOI: 10.1039/C5TC02537K

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