Pb-based group-IV chalcogenides including Pb Te and Pb Se have been extensively studied as high performance thermoelectric materials during the past few decades.However,the toxicity of Pb inhibits their applications i...Pb-based group-IV chalcogenides including Pb Te and Pb Se have been extensively studied as high performance thermoelectric materials during the past few decades.However,the toxicity of Pb inhibits their applications in vast fields due to the serious harm to the environment.Recently the Pb-free group-IV chalcogenides have become an extensive research subject as promising thermoelectric materials because of their unique thermal and electronic transport properties as well as the enviromentally friendly advantage.This paper briefly summarizes the recent research advances in Sn-,Ge-,and Sichalcogenides thermoelectrics,showing the unexceptionally high thermoelectric performance in Sn Se single crystal,and the significant improvement in thermoelectric performance for those polycrystalline materials by successfully modulating the electronic and thermal transport through using some well-developed strategies including band engineering,nanostructuring and defect engineering.In addition,some important issues for future device applications,including N-type doping and mechanical and chemical stabilities of the new thermoelectrics,are also discussed.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51472052 and U1601213)
文摘Pb-based group-IV chalcogenides including Pb Te and Pb Se have been extensively studied as high performance thermoelectric materials during the past few decades.However,the toxicity of Pb inhibits their applications in vast fields due to the serious harm to the environment.Recently the Pb-free group-IV chalcogenides have become an extensive research subject as promising thermoelectric materials because of their unique thermal and electronic transport properties as well as the enviromentally friendly advantage.This paper briefly summarizes the recent research advances in Sn-,Ge-,and Sichalcogenides thermoelectrics,showing the unexceptionally high thermoelectric performance in Sn Se single crystal,and the significant improvement in thermoelectric performance for those polycrystalline materials by successfully modulating the electronic and thermal transport through using some well-developed strategies including band engineering,nanostructuring and defect engineering.In addition,some important issues for future device applications,including N-type doping and mechanical and chemical stabilities of the new thermoelectrics,are also discussed.