Entropy Engineering of SnTe: Multi‐Principal‐Element Alloying Leading to Ultralow Lattice Thermal Conductivity and State‐of‐the‐Art Thermoelectric Performance

Abstract

AbstractThe core effects of high entropy alloys distinguish high entropy alloying from ordinary multielement doping, allowing for a synergy of band structure and microstructure engineering. Here, a systematic synthesis, structural, theoretical, and thermoelectric study of multi‐principal‐element‐alloyed SnTe is reported. Toward high thermoelectric performance, the entropy of mixing needs to be high enough to make good use of the core effects, yet low enough to minimize the degradation of carrier mobility. It is demonstrated that high entropy of mixing extends the solubility limit of Mn while retaining the lattice symmetry, the enhanced Mn content elicits multiscale microstructures. The resulting ultralow lattice thermal conductivity of ≈0.32 W m−1 K−1 at 900 K in (Sn0.7Ge0.2Pb0.1)0.75Mn0.275Te is not only lower than the amorphous limit of SnTe but also comparable to those thermoelectric materials with complex crystal structures and strong anharmonicity. Co‐alloying of (Sn,Ge,Pb,Mn) also enhances band convergence and band effective mass, yielding good power factors. Further tuning of the Sn excess yields a state‐of‐the‐art zT ≈1.42 at 900 K in (Sn0.74Ge0.2Pb0.1)0.75Mn0.275Te. In view of the simple face‐centered‐cubic structure of SnTe‐based alloys, these results attest to the efficacy of entropy engineering toward a new paradigm of high entropy thermoelecrics.