Review of Chalcogenide-Based Materials for Low-, Mid-, and High-Temperature Thermoelectric Applications

Abstract

Thermoelectric materials possess the capability to convert electricity into heat and vice versa. The utilization of chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons as thermal carrier agents in traditional cooling and air conditioning systems has sparked a surge in exploration toward pioneering refrigeration and spatial conditioning technologies. Chalcogenides, known for their capacity to amplify the thermoelectric efficiency of materials and their adaptability across a broad spectrum of temperatures, stand out as pivotal components in thermoelectric materials. Despite their existing suboptimal performance, these materials hold substantial promise as power generators and as solid-state Peltier coolers, attracting significant attention and positioning them as subjects ripe for further investigation. Categorized into alkali or alkaline earth, transition metal, and main-group chalcogenides, these materials and their respective subclasses are meticulously scrutinized to pinpoint the most suitable thermoelectric materials for specific applications with an optimal operational temperature span. In the quest for energy-efficient technologies characterized by simple designs, absence of moving components, and superior stability, thermoelectric materials play a crucial role. This review highlights the advancements in theoretical parameters as well as the figure of merit (ZT) of chalcogenide materials, emphasizing their device applications. These insights are intended to provide viable future approaches to mainstream thermoelectric materials. This review reveals that Cu₂Se achieves a maximum ZT value of 2.66 at 1039 K, marking it as the top performer among transition metal chalcogenides. Conversely, SnSe, a main-group metal monochalcogenide, exhibits a ZT value of 2.8 at 773 K, whereas nanowires of the main group of bismuth chalcogenides exhibit a ZT value of 2.5 at 350 K.