title: In situ nanostructure generation and evolution within a bulk thermoelectric material to reduce lattice thermal conductivity.
abstract: We show experimentally the direct reduction in lattice thermal conductivity as a result of in situ nanostructure generation within a thermoelectric material. Solid solution alloys of the high-performance thermoelectric PbTe-PbS 8% can be synthesized through rapid cooling and subsequent high-temperature activation that induces a spontaneous nucleation and growth of PbS nanocrystals. The emergence of coherent PbS nanostructures reduces the lattice thermal conductivity from approximately 1 to approximately 0.4 W/mK between 400 and 500 K.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Steven N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.forename: Jiaqing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Changpeng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moses
authors.forename: Guoyu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ctirad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uher
authors.forename: Vinayak P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Dravid
authors.forename: Mercouri G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kanatzidis