Thermoelectric Energy Conversion in Layered Metal Chalcogenides

Abstract

Nearly, ∼65% utilised energy being lost as waste heat. Thermoelectric materials can directly and reversibly convert heat to electrical energy, thereby thermoelectrics has an important role to play in the future energy management. Recently, layered metal chalcogenides has gained a momentous attention in the field of thermoelectrics as some of them exhibit record high values of thermoelectric figure of merit due to their intrinsically low thermal conductivity. For example, layered Bi2Te3 and its alloys are known for their high thermoelectric performance near room temperature. Mention must be made that remarkably high thermoelectric figure of merit of ∼2.6 has been recently achieved in layered SnSe due to its ultra-low thermal conductivity. Herein, we discuss about the synthesis, structure and thermoelectric properties of important layered chalcogenides.