High thermoelectric efficiency realized in SnSe crystals via structural modulation

Crystalline thermoelectrics have been developed to be potential candidates for power generation and electronic cooling, among which SnSe crystals are becoming the most representative. Herein, we realize high-performance SnSe crystals with promising efficiency through a structural modulation strategy. By alloying strontium at Sn sites, we modify the crystal structure and facilitate the multiband synglisis in p-type SnSe, favoring the optimization of interactive parameters mu and m(*). Resultantly, we obtain a significantly enhanced PF similar to 85 mu W cm(-1) K-2, with an ultrahigh ZT similar to 1.4 at 300K and ZT(ave) similar to 2.0 among 300-673K. Moreover, the excellent properties lead to single-leg device efficiency of similar to 8.9% under a temperature difference Delta T similar to 300K, showing superiority among the current low- to mid-temperature thermoelectrics, with an enhanced cooling Delta T-max of similar to 50.4K in the 7-pair thermoelectric device. Our study further advances p-type SnSe crystals for practical waste heat recovery and electronic cooling. Thermoelectric technology directly enables both power generation and electronic cooling. Here, the authors realize high-performance SnSe crystals with promising device efficiencies by modulating crystal and band structures.

Automated summary

Researchers achieve high-performance SnSe crystals with promising device efficiencies by modifying crystal and band structures.