An update review on n-type layered oxyselenide thermoelectric materials

Abstract

Compared with traditional thermoelectric materials, layered oxyselenide thermoelectric materials consist of nontoxic and lower-cost elements and have better chemical and thermal stability. Recently, several studies on n-type layered oxyselenide thermoelectric materials, including BiCuSeO, Bi2 O2 Se and Bi6 Cu2 Se4 O6, were reported, which stimulates us to comprehensively summarize these researches. In this short review, we begin with various attempts to realize an n-type BiCuSeO system. Then, we summarize several methods to optimize the thermoelectric performance of Bi2 O2 Se, including carrier engineering, band engineering, microstructure design, et al. Next, we introduce a new type of layered oxyselenide Bi6 Cu2 Se4 O6, and n-type transport properties can be obtained through halogen doping. At last, we propose some possible research directions for n-type layered oxyselenide thermoelectric materials.