| Citation: |
Yang Geng, Yaru Gong, Wei Dou, Pubao Peng, Pan Ying, Guodong Tang. Polycrystalline SnSe thermoelectrics: new opportunity and challenge[J]. Materials Lab, 2025, 4(1): 240013. doi: 10.54227/mlab.20240013
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Polycrystalline SnSe thermoelectrics: new opportunity and challenge
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Abstract
Polycrystalline SnSe is considered as a highly promising candidates for thermoelectric application due to facile processing, machinability and scale-up application. Developing high-performance polycrystalline SnSe has become a critical research direction. Unfortunately, ZT values in polycrystalline SnSe are far less than that of single crystal because polycrystalline SnSe show much lower electrical conductivity and relatively higher thermal conductivity. Here, we presents our recent research progress on polycrystalline SnSe. We demonstrated that thermoelectric performance have been significantly enhanced in polycrystalline SnSe through proposed strategy. Finally, we discusses the future challenges facing polycrystalline SnSe thermoelectric materials.
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Keywords:
- SnSe /
- thermoelectric /
- microstructure regulation /
- energy band engineering
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Author Biographies
Yang Geng is a Ph.D. candidate at Nanjing University of Science and Technology under the supervision of Prof. Guodong Tang. He received his master's degree in materials and chemical engineering from Shenzhen University, China in 2023. His research focus on thermoelectric materials. 
Yaru Gong is a Ph.D. candidate at Nanjing University of Science and Technology under the supervision of Prof. Guodong Tang. She received her B.E. degree in Nanomaterials and Technology from Nanjing University of Science and Technology, China in 2019. Her research focus on thermoelectric materials. 
Guodong Tang is currently a full Professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Nanjing University of Science and Technology, China. He received his Ph.D. degree in condensed physics from Nanjing University, China, in 2011. His research interests include thermoelectric energy conversion materials and devices, from synthesizing materials to understanding their underlying physics and chemistry. -
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Yang Geng, Yaru Gong, Wei Dou, Pubao Peng, Pan Ying, Guodong Tang. Polycrystalline SnSe thermoelectrics: new opportunity and challenge[J]. Materials Lab, 2025, 4(1): 240013. doi: 10.54227/mlab.20240013
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Figure 1.
Comparison of thermoelectric properties between single crystal SnSe and polycrystalline SnSe. a κLmin,[15,27,30,33–37] b μH,[30–32,38–47] c PF, d ZT.[30,31,34,37,42,48,49]
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Figure 2.
HAADF-STEM images of Sn0.95Se along the b-axis: a low-magnification image of grain interior; b vacancy domains; c atomic-resolution image showing the projection of atomic columns; d intensity line scanning profile along the green boxed atomic layer, taken directly from the digital readout of the detector. The arrows indicate Sn poor column.[53]
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Figure 3.
Modulation mechanism of WCl6 doping on SnSe electron-phonon transport.[54]
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Figure 4.
a Electronic band structures of SnSe. b Crystal structures of Sn0.963W0.028Se0.92. Unfolding band structures of c SnSe0.92 and d Sn0.963W0.027Se0.92. The scale bar is the magnitude of the spectral weight, which characterizes the probability of the primitive cell eigenstates contributing to a particular supercell eigenstate of the same energy. Density of states of e SnSe0.92 and f Sn0.963W0.027Se0.92. The dashed line represents the Fermi energy level.[55]
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Figure 5.
a μW/κL, b quality factor (B), c ZT along the pressing direction. d Comparisons of ZT for SnSe0.92 + 0.03WCl6 with n-type polycrystalline SnSe-based systems.[55]
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Figure 6.
Schematic diagram of the effect of the magnetic field on the grain growth. Enhanced energy filtering effects and density of states were induced by the smaller nano grains and Se quantum dots.[59]
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Figure 7.
a UPS spectra. b Density of valence electronic states (DOVS) at the Fermi level for 0 T-Sn0.975Ga0.025Se sample and 5 T-NP/QD Sn0.975Ga0.025Se sample.
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Figure 8.
Microstructural characterizations of sintered 5 T-NP/QD Sn0.975Ga0.025Se sample a-d HAADF-STEM image and corresponding EDS mappings, showing Sn quantum dots e-h HAADF-STEM image and corresponding EDS mappings, showing Se quan tum dots. i Medium magnification Bright-field STEM (BF-STEM) image of the dense linear defects (dislo cations), which intertwining into dislocation networks j high magnification BF-STEM image of the linear defect, k HAADF-STEM image and l GPA strain mapping of the zone in the red dashed box in j, showing the lattice distortion and lattice strain of the kinking area in linear defect, respectively.[63]
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Figure 9.
Microstructural characterizations of Sn0.96Ga0.04Se. a Typical TEM image of a plenty of dislocations and stacking fault. b HRTEM patterns of Sn0.96Ga0.04Se to show nanoprecipitates. c, e Images showing details of dislocations and the corresponding strain mapping. d, f Images showing details of stacking fault and the corresponding strain mapping.[69]
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Figure 10.
a Total thermal conductivity κT as a function of temperature. b Lattice thermal conductivity κL as a function of temperature.[69]
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Figure 11.
SEM images of a Sn0.96Ge0.04Se0.96S0.04 nanorods tightly arranged in a cluster structure, b Sn0.96Ge0.04Se0.96S0.04 nanorods enlarged in different regions, and c-d a single nanorod and its elemental mapping.[54]
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Figure 12.
The temperature dependence of a total thermal conductivity (κT) and comparison of the b κL of Sn1−xGexSe1−xSx nanorods with those of SnSe-based systems. The temperature dependence of c ZT, d comparison of ZTmax and ZTavg of Sn1−xGexSe1−xSx nanorods with those of SnSe-based systems. Mechanical performance of SnSe and Sn0.96Ge0.04Se0.96S0.04.[54]
