Enhanced thermoelectric performance in MXene/SnTe nanocomposites synthesized via a facile one-step solvothermal method

As a promising alternative to the toxic PbTe-based thermoelectric materials, eco-friendly SnTe has attracted considerable attention. Here, we use a facile solvothermal method to in-situ synthesize MXene/SnTe nanocomposites. Comprehensive characterization results indicate that the incorporation of two-dimensional MXene in SnTe matrix can suppress Sn vacancies to result in a reduced carrier concentration and induce abundant MXene/SnTe interfaces, which simultaneously optimizes the electrical and thermal transport properties. As a result, with the optimized MXene content, the maximum figure of merit of similar to 0.63 at 823 K is obtained in SnTe with 0.6 wt% MXene, which shows a 60% enhancement compared to pristine SnTe. This work explores a new strategy to introduce two-dimensional MXene into SnTe-based materials with improved thermoelectric properties, which can inspire new pathways into designing and synthesizing high-performance thermoelectric materials.

Automated summary

This study successfully synthesized MXene/SnTe nanocomposites using a facile solvothermal method, and found that the incorporation of two-dimensional MXene in SnTe matrix can significantly optimize its thermoelectric properties, leading to an enhanced figure of merit.