Constructing Localized Van Der Waals Gaps in Cubic-Phase GeMnTe₂ Thermoelectric Material.

ABSTRACT: Cubic-phase GeMnTe₂ shows high potential to replace state-of-the-art rhombohedral GeTe for medium temperature thermoelectric application owing to its lower cost. The high structural symmetry can also suppress phase transition during service and provides a superior platform for further band and microstructural engineering. Through Sb₂Te₃ alloying and Pb substitution, this study realizes a superior peak figure of merit of ≈1.5 at 773 K and a remarkable average figure of merit of ≈0.96 at 323-823 K. Sb₂Te₃ alloying successfully generates high-density localized van der Waals (vdW) gaps which are able to scattering low-frequency phonons effectively for reduced lattice conductivity; meanwhile, it also enlarges the valence band degeneracy for

SUBMITTER: Zhang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12822465 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature