Chemical modulation and defect engineering in high-performance GeTe-based thermoelectrics
Yilin Jiang, Jincheng Yu, Hezhang Li, Hua‐Lu Zhuang, Jing‐Feng Li
Abstract
) of 2.7. This review presents a thorough overview of the advancements in GeTe thermoelectric materials, meticulously detailing the crystal structure, chemical bonding characteristics, band structure, and phonon dynamics to elucidate the underlying mechanisms that contribute to their exceptional performance. Moreover, the phase transition in GeTe introduces unique degrees of freedom that enable multiple pathways for property optimization. In terms of electrical properties, noticeable enhancement can be realized through strategies such as band structure modulation, carrier concentration engineering, and vacancy engineering. For phonon transport properties, by incorporating defect structures with varying dimensions and constructing multi-scale hierarchical architectures, phonons can be effectively scattered across different wavelengths. Additionally, we provide a summary of current research on devices and modules of GeTe. This review encapsulates historical progress while projecting future development trends that will facilitate the practical application of GeTe in alignment with environmentally sustainable objectives.