The discovery of a novel mechanism by a team of researchers that further suppresses thermal conductivity in thermoelectric materials will aid in the development of new standards for the manufacture of high-performance thermoelectric materials.
A schematic diagram. In intermetallic compounds with tunnel spaces in the crystal structure (Na-X-Sn compounds, where X is Al, Ga, In, or Zn), Na atoms in the tunnel vibrate (rattling) with large amplitude along the elongation direction of the tunnel, and the local interatomic distance of these Na atoms. It was found that the lattice thermal conductivity decreases in compounds where the local interatomic distance (dNa-Na) of these Na atoms is closer. This is a new mechanism of thermal conductivity reduction caused by the strong correlation of the atomic chain-like rattling atoms in the tunnel with each other. Image Credit: Takahiro Yamada et al.
On December 17Th，2022年，该研究发表在Advanced Materials。
Thermal conductivity, or the ability to control how easily heat is transferred through a material, has a variety of uses in daily life, including improving the performance of electronic devices, insulating homes, improving energy efficiency in automobiles, and generating more power.
热管理技术正在从科学家那里获得更多的关注，以此作为有效使用热能并解决各种热量问题的一种方式。
当研究团队将它们插入金属间化合物晶体结构内的隧道空间时，原子链彼此之间密切相关，并以大幅度或“嘎嘎作响”振动。
Strong experiments and theoretical calculations showed that as the correlation between rattling atoms got stronger, the reduction in thermal conductivity was greater.
由于热电材料的进步需要较低的导热率，因此我们的发现可以为改进的热电材料提供亚博网站下载新的指南。
Takahiro Yamada, Study Co-Author and Professor, Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University
Hisanori Yamane教授（IMRAM），Masato Yoshiya教授（研究时期）（大阪大学工程研究生院），Takatsu Hiroshi Hiroshi副教授和Hiroshi Kageyama教授（Kyoto University，Kyoto University），首席高级研究科学科学科学科学科学科学科学科学家。Takuji Ikeda (Research Institute for Chemical Process Technology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) and Senior Research Scientist Dr. Hideaki Nagai (Research Institute for Energy Conservation, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) also participated in the research.
期刊参考：
Yamada，T.，et al.（2022）将抑制热电stannides热传导的钠链的嘎嘎声相关。Advanced Materials.doi:10.1002/adma.202207646。
Source:http://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/index.html