Entropy engineering: An innovative strategy for designing high-performance thermoelectric materials and devices

Abstract

Entropy engineering in thermoelectric materials involves a deliberate manipulation of entropy-related effects to boost performance. It revolves around designing materials to capitalize on entropy-driven changes, breaking conventional trade-offs between properties like electrical and thermal conductivity for improved efficiency. Entropy engineering fosters higher crystal symmetry, altering the Seebeck coefficient by augmenting degenerate valleys in the band structure. The introduction of significant mixing entropy mitigates strain energy, enhancing structural stability. Conversely, severe lattice distortion, atomic mass fluctuations, lattice anharmonicity, multiscale microstructures, and point defects lead to potent scattering of phonons, which suppresses thermal transport properties. This study comprehensively explores the effectiveness of entropy engineering in diverse compounds, aligning with the status and challenges in this field. These insights will guide researchers in refining material design and properties, advancing high-performance thermoelectric materials and devices to revolutionize energy conversion and stimulate sustainable technological advancements.