journal article·2025-09-30

Thiol–Amine Complexes for the Synthesis and Surface Engineering of SnTe Nanomaterials toward High Thermoelectric Performance

Weite Meng, Lixiang Xu, Shaoqing Lu, Mingquan Li, Mengyao Li, Yu Zhang, Qingyue Wang, Wen-Jun Wang, Siqi Huo, Miguel A. Bañares, Marisol Martin-Gonzalez, Maria Ibáñez, Andreu Cabot, Min Hong, Yu Liu, Khak Ho Lim

ACS Nano· Volume 19· Issue 38
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Abstract

SnTe has attracted significant research interest as a lead-free alternative to PbTe; however, its intrinsically high hole concentration results in an undesirably low Seebeck coefficient and elevated electronic thermal conductivity, thus significantly limiting its thermoelectric (TE) performance. Herein, we present a cost-effective, binary thiol-amine-mediated colloidal synthesis method to synthesize Bi-doped SnTe nanoparticles, eliminating the use of tri-n-octylphosphine-based precursors. The introduction of an electron-rich Bi dopant reduces the hole concentration and increases the Seebeck coefficient. Furthermore, post-synthetic surface treatment with chalcogenidocadmate complexes promotes atomic interdiffusion during annealing and consolidation, leading to compositional redistribution and modulation of the electronic band structure. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that co-modification via Bi doping and CdSe-derived chalcogen incorporation reduces the energy offset at the valence band maxima from 0.30 eV to 0.10 eV, thereby enhancing valence band degeneracy. The synergistic structural and electronic band structure modulations produce an SnTe-based material with a record high power factor of 2.1 mW m –1 K –2 at 900 K, a maximum TE figure of merit ( zT ) of 1.2, and a promising theoretical conversion efficiency of 8.3%. This study reports a versatile and scalable colloidal synthesis strategy that integrates hierarchical structural modulation with electronic band engineering, offering a synergistic route to significantly enhance the TE performance.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices · Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies · Chalcogenide Semiconductor Thin Films

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Anhui Province Engineering Research Center of Flexible and Intelligent Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Hefei University of Technology

Zhejiang-Spain International Joint Laboratory of Advanced Material and Product Engineering, Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou, 99 Zheda Rd, Quzhou 324000, China

School of Physics and Laboratory of Zhongyuan Light

Zhengzhou University

Institute of Wenzhou, Zhejiang University, 26 Fengnan Rd, Wenzhou 325006, China

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Low-Carbon Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Zhejiang University

Centre for Future Materials and School of Engineering

University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Central Queensland

Spectroscopy and Industrial Catalysis, Instituto de Catálisis y Petroleoquímica, CSIC-ICP, Marie Curie 2, E-28049 Madrid, Spain

Instituto de Micro y Nanotecnología, IMN-CNM, CSIC (CEI UAM+CSIC), Isaac Newton, 8, E-28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain

Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria

Catalonia Institute for Energy Research-IREC Sant Adrià del Besòs

ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona 08010, Catalonia, Spain

Funding

National Computational Infrastructure · Australian Research Council · Key Research and Development Program of Zhejiang Province · Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities · National Natural Science Foundation of China · Department of Education, Australian Government · Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project of Overseas Returnees in Anhui Province · Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou · Wenzhou Basic Scientific Research Project · National Foreign Expert Project

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