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Thermoelectrics: Latest Research and News


Researchers have reported the discovery of a new half-Heusler compound TaFeSb, which demonstrates a record ZT of ~1.52 at 973 K.
The results are published in nature COMMUNICATIONS. (volume 10, Article 270 (2019))
Article: Discovery of TaFeSb-based half-Heuslers with high thermoelectric performance

Researchers have found a promising thermoelectric performance in reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheets. A high power factor S2σ = 54.5 µW/cm K2 is achieved. RGO nanosheets can be printable, lightweight and useful for making flexible films.The results are published in nature energy. (volume 3, pages 148–156 (2018))
Article: Thermoelectric properties and performance of flexible reduced graphene oxide films up to 3,000 K

Researchers from Northwestern University (Zhao et al.) have observed exceptionally very low lattice thermal conductivity ~0.23 W/mK at 973 K in SnSe. Such a low thermal conductivity resulted in a record high ZT of 2.6 at 923 K.
The work is published in nature. (volume 508, pages 373–377 (2014))
Article: Ultralow thermal conductivity and high thermoelectric figure of merit in SnSe crystals

A research team from Peking University carried out theoretical calculations (density functional theory combined with Boltzmann transport theory) on a single-layered SnSe sheet to look at its thermoelectric properties. They found an exciting result that the SnSe sheet can give a figure of merit (ZT) of  3.27. Suggesting a very promising future material to replace highly toxic state-of-the-art materials.
The work is published in Nanoscale. (volume 7, pages 15962-15970 (2015))
Article: Thermoelectric properties of single-layered SnSe sheet

A heavy-band half-Heusler alloy, p-type FeNbSb with a high zT of ~1.5 at 1,200 K has been reported. This kind of alloys/compounds is very important because they are low cost and possess excellent mechanical robustness and stability.
Published in Nature Communications. (volume 6, Article number: 8144 (2015))
Article: Realizing high figure of merit in heavy-band p-type half-Heusler thermoelectric materials



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