Frontiers in Materials (Oct 2020)

Exploring Thermoelectric Property Improvement for Binary Copper Chalcogenides

  • Xinqi Chen,
  • Jianping Yang,
  • Tomas Katkus,
  • Tian Wu,
  • Junhui Tao,
  • Jie Li,
  • Chuanhui Wang,
  • Xin Wang,
  • Wei Dai

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmats.2020.589568
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7

Abstract

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Copper chalcogenides have been the subject of extensive research as promising candidates in thermoelectric conversion applications due to their advantageous properties, environmental compatibility, and abundance. The low intrinsic thermal conductivity and high electric conductivity of these materials are born out of the “phonon-liquid electron-crystal” structure between the copper and chalcogens. In this review, strategies for thermoelectric property improvement of copper chalcogenides are discussed. The challenges and the future development of binary copper chalcogenides for further thermoelectric conversion applications are outlined.

Keywords