In situ nanostructure generation and evolution within a bulk thermoelectric material to reduce lattice thermal conductivity.
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.
Girard
Steven N
SN
Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
He
Jiaqing
J
Li
Changpeng
C
Moses
Steven
S
Wang
Guoyu
G
Uher
Ctirad
C
Dravid
Vinayak P
VP
Kanatzidis
Mercouri G
MG