Thermoelectric materials by using two-dimensional materials with negative correlation between electrical and thermal conductivity.

ABSTRACT: In general, in thermoelectric materials the electrical conductivity ? and thermal conductivity ? are related and thus cannot be controlled independently. Previously, to maximize the thermoelectric figure of merit in state-of-the-art materials, differences in relative scaling between ? and ? as dimensions are reduced to approach the nanoscale were utilized. Here we present an approach to thermoelectric materials using tin disulfide, SnS2, nanosheets that demonstrated a negative correlation between ? and ?. In other words, as the thickness of SnS2 decreased, ? increased whereas ? decreased. This approach leads to a thermoelectric figure of merit increase to 0.13 at 300?K, a factor ?1,000 times greater than previously reported bulk single-crystal SnS2. The Seebeck coefficient obtained for our two-dimensional SnS2 nanosheets was 34.7?mV?K(-1) for 16-nm-thick samples at 300?K.

SUBMITTER: Lee MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4919538 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature