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Remarkable electron and phonon transports in low-cost SnS: A new promising thermoelectric material

低成本SnS中卓越的电子和声子传输: 一种具有前途的新型热电材料

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Abstract

As a deceptively simple material, SnS has received extensive attention in the thermoelectric community recently due to its fascinating electron and phonon transport features, making it a very promising thermoelectric candidate. In this review, we first discuss the fundamental characteristics of SnS, including crystal structures, electronic and phononic band structures, and physical or chemical properties. Meanwhile, the approaches of improving thermoelectric performance are summarized, including simultaneous carrier concentration tuning and carrier mobility improvement, multiple valence bands transport and their synergetic optimization, and anharmonicity and phonon “softening” behavior. We also compare the difference in electrical and thermal transport properties between crystals and polycrystalline SnS. Then, theoretical calculations to predict the maximum ZT in SnS system are also established for potential performance enhancement. Finally, some future possible strategies are proposed to aim at further promoting the figure of merit of SnS. The exploration and research on this new emerged material can contribute the thermoelectrics toward practical applications to meet market demands of low-cost, high-effectiveness, and environmental compatibility.

摘要

SnS作为一种看似简单的化合物, 近年来却因其极具吸引力的电子和声子传输特性而在热电领域得到广泛关注, 使其成为一种非常具有应用前景的热电材料候选者. 本文首先讨论了SnS的基本特性, 包括晶体结构、电子和声子能带结构以及物理和化学性质. 同时, 对提高该材料热电性能的策略也进行了总结, 包括载流子浓度的优化和载流子迁移率的提升, 多价带输运协同优化热电参数, 以及非简谐性和声子“软化”行为. 对于晶体和多晶SnS在电和热传输性能上的差异, 我们也进行了比较. 然后, 建立了预测SnS体系中最大ZT的理论模型计算, 以进一步提高其热电性能. 最后, 我们提出了进一步提升SnS体系ZT值的方法策略. 对这种新型材料的探索和研究将有助于热电材料的实际推广和应用, 以满足市场对低成本、高效率和环境兼容性的需求.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51772012), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFA0702100), the 111 Project (B17002). Zhao L appreciates the support of the high performance computing (HPC) resources at Beihang University, and the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (51925101).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China

    Wenke He  (何文科) & Ran Ang  (昂然)

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China

    Wenke He  (何文科) & Li-Dong Zhao  (赵立东)

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  1. Wenke He  (何文科)
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  2. Ran Ang  (昂然)
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Contributions

Zhao LD conceived the structure of this review. He W and Zhao LD participated in the analysis, drawing and writing of the entire perspective. Ang R and Zhao LD revised the draft before it was submitted, and all the authors co-edited the final version of this perspective.

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Correspondence to Li-Dong Zhao  (赵立东).

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Wenke He is currently an associate research fellow at the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University. He received his BE degree from China Three Gorges University in 2016 and PhD degree from Beihang University in 2021. His main research interests focus on the crystal growth and performance optimization of thermoelectric materials with layered structures.

Ran Ang is a full professor at Sichuan University since 2015. He received his PhD degree from the Institute of Solid State Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in 2008, and his postdoctoral research experience spanned 7 years during 2008–2015 from Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, Tohoku University, and National Institute for Materials Science, Japan. He has been working on thermoelectric materials, superconducting materials, and magnetic materials for more than 18 years. His research interest focuses on materials physics and thermoelectric applications.

Li-Dong Zhao is a full professor of the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Beihang University, China. He received his PhD degree from the University of Science and Technology Beijing, China in 2009. He was a postdoctoral research associate at the Université Paris-Sud and Northwestern University from 2009 to 2014. His research interests include electrical and thermal transport behaviors in the compounds with layered structures. Group website: http://shi.buaa.edu.cn/zhaolidong/zh_CN/index.ht:rn.

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He, W., Ang, R. & Zhao, LD. Remarkable electron and phonon transports in low-cost SnS: A new promising thermoelectric material. Sci. China Mater. 65, 1143–1155 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-021-1945-1

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