Premium
Advances in Thermoelectric Mg 3 Sb 2 and Its Derivatives
Author(s) -
Shi Xuemin,
Wang Xiao,
Li Wen,
Pei Yanzhong
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
small methods
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.66
H-Index - 46
ISSN - 2366-9608
DOI - 10.1002/smtd.201800022
Subject(s) - thermoelectric effect , thermoelectric materials , materials science , thermal conductivity , engineering physics , figure of merit , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , thermodynamics , physics , composite material
Over the past couple of decades, thermoelectric Mg 3 Sb 2 and its derivatives have attracted increasing attention for thermoelectric applications. This is enabled by the richness in composition for manipulating both electronic and thermal properties and by the intrinsic low lattice thermal conductivity. With existing efforts on these materials, the thermoelectric figure of merit has been significantly improved to compete with conventional thermoelectrics, while many of these materials keep the compositions cheap and less‐toxic elements only. Here, not only the control of defects, band structure, electronic transport properties, and lattice thermal conductivity for these materials, but also the proven strategies on transport property manipulation are summarized. These strategies are well demonstrated for advancing thermoelectric Mg 3 Sb 2 and its derivatives, and the principles used are believed to be equally applicable for many other thermoelectric materials. In addition, perspectives for possible further advancements in this class of thermoelectric materials are shown.