Hierarchical Architecturing for Layered Thermoelectric Sulfides and Chalcogenides

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Solid State Physics
• Chemistry

Background:

• Sulfides are cost-effective and environmentally friendly thermoelectric materials.
• Thermoelectric materials convert heat energy into electrical energy and vice versa.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in all-length-scale hierarchical architecturing of sulfides and chalcogenides.
• To highlight strategies for enhancing thermoelectric performance in these materials.

Main Methods:

• Focus on TiS₂-based layered sulfides, misfit layered sulfides, homologous chalcogenides, accordion-like layered Sn chalcogenides, and thermoelectric minerals.
• Utilizing CS₂ sulfurization for sulfide thermoelectric material preparation.
• Analyzing atomic, nanoscale, and microscale structural modifications.

Main Results:

• Atomic-scale strategies like guest atom intercalation and homologous series crystal evolution scatter phonons, reducing lattice thermal conductivity.
• Nanoscale stacking faults further decrease lattice thermal conductivity.
• Microscale highly oriented microtexture enhances in-plane carrier mobility and thermoelectric power factor.

Conclusions:

• All-length-scale hierarchical architecturing is crucial for optimizing sulfide thermoelectric properties.
• Strategies at different length scales effectively reduce thermal conductivity and enhance the power factor.
• These findings pave the way for developing high-performance, cost-effective thermoelectric sulfides.