N2 Atmosphere Research Articles

Effect of Polycarbosilane (PCS) on the High-Temperature Properties of Phenolic Resin (Phen) Films and Quartz Fiber/Phen-PCS Composites

In this study phenolic resin (Phen)-loaded PCS (Phen-PCS) films were prepared and quartz fiber/Phen-PCS composites based on the resin films were also prepared. The quartz fiber/Phen-PCS composites were prepared by impregnating 2.5 Dimension (2.5D was an arrangement of fibers) quartz fibers using the resin film infusion (RFI) process. The properties of the composites were investigated. The study demonstrated that the density of the composites, after curing gradually increased with the increase in PCS. The flexural strength of the composites exhibited a trend of increasing and then decreasing after curing and pyrolysis at 1100 °C under an N2 atmosphere. The flexural strength of the composites reached 13.73 MPa when the addition of PCS was 30% of the phenolic resin, representing an increase of 74.23% compared to that of the composites without PCS. The porosity was found to be as low as 2.3% after curing and 2.1% after pyrolysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and infrared spectroscopy tests demonstrated that ceramicization products, such as SiO2 and SiC, were produced after pyrolysis of the composites containing PCS. This transformation significantly enhanced the ablation resistance of the composites. Butane flame tests were performed, and the lowest line and mass ablation rates were 0.026 mm/s and 0.196 mg/s after curing. The results of the study revealed the potential of PCS as a precursor to improve the mechanical properties and heat resistance of composites, which offers promising material options for high-temperature applications.

PP upcycling employing FCC spent catalyst: The role of contaminants, atmosphere and pressure

Innovative and sustainable approaches are being pursued to convert plastic waste into high-value fuels, particularly without using noble metal catalysts or external hydrogen sources. In this scenario, we explored the utilization of a spent fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst (ECAT), aiming to enhance the yield and quality of products through catalytic cracking of Polypropylene (PP) under different reaction conditions. Under a 20 bar H2 atmosphere, ECAT efficiently cracked PP into alkanes (71.6 %) and aromatics (25.5 %), with minimal alkenes (2.2 %) production. Similarly, under a 20 bar N2 atmosphere, ECAT achieved comparable conversion levels, producing mainly saturated hydrocarbons, which was intriguing. However, tests conducted at 1 bar N2 pressure showed that PP conversion remains unaffected but presents higher olefins’ yield and lower aromatics than ECAT. Thus, pressure seems to favor aromatization and in situ hydrogen transfer. By comparing the performance of ECAT with commercial CBV 712 zeolite, we propose that PP acts as an internal hydrogen source, eliminating the need for external supply improving efficiency and selectivity. Interestingly, mechanistic insights suggested that dehydroaromatization and hydrogen transfer within zeolite pores were dominant, and pressure (H2 or N2) could have helped it. In addition, contrary to previous studies that claim that metal contaminants in ECAT are essential for the hydrogenation process, our findings suggest that for this particular ECAT composition, we do not observe any boost in alkane yield due to the presence of these metals. Hence, our study comprehensively evaluates different strategies that can be employed to promote PP upcycling promoted by ECAT.

Enhanced electrochemiluminescence of dual-defect graphite carbon nitride for ultrasensitive detection of CEA

Herein, a dual-defective graphite carbon nitride (DDCN) was prepared by polymerization under N2 atmosphere combined with oxidation treatment. The luminous intensity of dual-defect graphite phase carbon nitride based on defect state luminescence is significantly improved compared to CN-air. On this basis, a biosensor for CEA detection was constructed based on specific immunobinding of antigen–antibody. It is noted that the biosensor exhibits a wide linear range of 1 × 10-5 ∼ 1 × 102 ng•mL−1, a low detection limit of 3.3 × 10-4 pg•mL−1, a recovery of 94 %∼105 % and RSD less than 4.41 %. In addition, there was no significant difference to the clinical results, indicating that this work has good clinical application prospects.

Natural Antioxidant Vitamin C Improves Photovoltaic Performance of Tin-Lead Mixed Perovskite Solar Cells.

The oxidation of Sn2+ can occur even after the completion of the perovskite crystallization in a low oxygen environment. Concerning this, the natural antioxidant vitamin C (VC) is introduced to the surface of Sn-Pb mixed perovskite using a postprocessing method to achieve the purpose of inhibiting Sn2+ oxidation and enhancing perovskite solar cells performance. The results indicate that the VC could effectively inhibit Sn2+ oxidation and heal the vacancy defects of the annealed perovskite film. Meanwhile, the introduction of VC significantly improves the morphology and crystalline quality of the perovskite films. After optimization, the highest power conversion efficiency of the VC-treated Sn-Pb mixed device increased to 20.44%. Moreover, the VC-treated unencapsulated device shows excellent long-term stability, retaining 75.3% of its initial efficiency after 800 h of aging in a N2 atmosphere, which is much higher than the 20.1% of the control device.

Hybrid Cu sinter paste for low temperature bonding of bare semiconductors

A novel hybrid copper paste was developed for low temperature sintering of bare semiconductors. Cu(II) formate (Cu(for)) is complexed in amino-2-propanol (A2P) and added to a paste of etched brass micro flakes. A two-step sintering process is applied: The paste is printed and dried at 120 °C under formic acid (FA) enriched N2 atmosphere (FAN2) for 5 min. Afterwards, bare semiconductors are placed and sintered at 250 °C for 5 min applying a bonding pressure of 20 MPa/10 MPa. By the thermal decomposition of the Cu(for) atomic Cu is released and forms in-situ Cu-nanoparticles. An interconnect is realized with shear strength >100 MPa.

Achieving Homogeneous Microstructure and Superior Properties in High-N Austenitic Stainless Steel via a Novel Atmosphere-Switching Method

Powder metallurgy is widely used to fabricate high-nitrogen, nickel-free austenitic stainless steel. However, after sintering and nitriding, additional solution treatment is typically required to achieve uniform nitrogen distribution and a homogeneous austenite phase. This work proposes a novel method to eliminate the need for lengthy and high-temperature solution treatment by switching the nitrogen atmosphere to argon during the cooling process. The effects of different N2-Ar atmosphere-switching temperatures (750–1320 °C) on the phase composition, element distribution, microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance of the studied steels were systematically investigated. Results show that cooling in the N2 atmosphere initially transforms the matrix to a fully austenitic structure enriched with nitrogen. Excessive nitrogen infiltration leads to Cr2N precipitation, inducing partial austenite decomposition and forming a multiphase structure comprising austenite, α-Fe, and Cr2N. Strategic switching from N2 to Ar reverses this reaction, yielding a high-nitrogen, chemically uniform austenitic structure. Specifically, switching at 1150 °C, the steel exhibits excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, with a yield strength of 749 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 1030 MPa, an elongation of 38.7%, and a corrosion current of 0.06 mA/cm2, outperforming the steels cooled solely in N2 and subsequently solution-treated. This novel method offers advantages in cost reduction, energy saving, and operational effectiveness, highlighting its potential for broad industrial application.

Light-Induced Transformation of Virus-Like Particles on TiO2.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) shows significant potential as a self-cleaning material to inactivate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and prevent virus transmission. This study provides insights into the impact of UV-A light on the photocatalytic inactivation of adsorbed SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles (VLPs) on a TiO2 surface at the molecular and atomic levels. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, combined with density functional theory calculations, reveals that spike proteins can adsorb on TiO2 predominantly via their amine and amide functional groups in their amino acids blocks. We employ atomic force microscopy and grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) to investigate the molecular-scale morphological changes during the inactivation of VLPs on TiO2 under light irradiation. Notably, in situ measurements reveal photoinduced morphological changes of VLPs, resulting in increased particle diameters. These results suggest that the denaturation of structural proteins induced by UV irradiation and oxidation of the virus structure through photocatalytic reactions can take place on the TiO2 surface. The in situ GISAXS measurements under an N2 atmosphere reveal that the virus morphology remains intact under UV light. This provides evidence that the presence of both oxygen and UV light is necessary to initiate photocatalytic reactions on the surface and subsequently inactivate the adsorbed viruses. The chemical insights into the virus inactivation process obtained in this study contribute significantly to the development of solid materials for the inactivation of enveloped viruses.

Electrochemical Evaluation of Penta‐Coordinated Fe Phthalocyanine During the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Various Acidic Solutions

AbstractIron phthalocyanine (FePc) was penta‐coordinated with pyridine ligand (Py) grafted on carbon nanotube (CNT), to form (FePc‐Py‐CNT). The complex was studied as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction ORR in seven different supporting electrolytes: OH− (0.1 M), OH− (1 M), NO3− (1 M), HSO4− (1 M), ClO4− (1 M), Br− (1 M), Cl− (1 M), to unveil anion‐poisoning effects and mechanism. Through cyclic voltammetry and polarization curves in N2 and O2 saturated atmospheres, thermodynamic and kinetic data were acquired. In acid media, the formal potential Fe(III)/(II) (E0’Fe(III)/(II)) of the complex is biased to more negative potentials by the anion presence. Similar effects were observed for the onset potential (Eonset) during polarization curves for the ORR. When the ORR was performed in the presence of either ClO4−, or HSO4−, anions, Tafel analysis showed different values depending if were derived from the low or from the high overpotential regions, revealing an inner‐sphere electron transfer mechanism (ISET). The Tafel values derived from measurements in the presence of Cl− and Br− anions do not change when extracted at low or at high overpotentials evidencing an outer‐sphere reaction mechanism (OSET). Gibbs free energies were derived from poisoning tests confirming the ISET and OSET mechanisms. The poisoning effect is responsible for the immediate loss of performance for these catalysts during the ORR in acidic media.

Qualitative study of carbides in liquid phase sintered M3:2 high speed steel

The microstructure of liquid phase sintered M3:2 high speed steel and the effect of adding carbon and silicon on the microstructure was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, dispersive spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction. Various types of carbides were formed depending on the added carbon and/or silicon, the sintering atmosphere and the cooling rate. The microstructure of sintered M3:2 high speed steel samples in vacuum conditions without the addition of Si and graphite is composed mainly of MC and M6C carbides inside cells and primarily at cell boundaries. The M2C eutectic carbides in these samples were formed at cell boundaries and their amounts and morphology depends on the cooling rate. Sintered samples in N2 atmosphere with added carbon and silicon, M6C eutectic and M7C3 eutectic carbides were dominantly formed while carbonitrides were formed in smaller amounts.

Cumulative effect of molybdenum doping and nitrogen atmosphere on the properties of vanadium oxycarbide cermets with iron binder

The present study focuses on the effect of molybdenum and nitrogen on the microstructure and mechanical properties of VCxOy-Fe cermets. Samples with 0–23 at% Mo were fabricated using a wet synthesis route and heat treatment under Ar and N2 atmospheres. Phase transformations during heating were investigated by TGA-DSC in combination with XRD, and the resulting materials were analyzed by SEM/EDX. A doping level of 6–12 at% was found to be optimal, as it lowered the melting point of the metallic binder to 1320–1360 °C. Replacing argon with nitrogen further decreased the melting point to 1210–1240 °C and reduced the grain size. Depending on the sintering temperature, gas environment, and molybdenum content, the produced cermets were characterized by 92–97 % density, 17–29 vol% binder phase, 8–14 GPa hardness, and 6–9 MPa m0.5 fracture toughness. The average size of oxycarbide grains, their stoichiometry, and the amount of dissolved vanadium in the iron binder demonstrated a strong correlation with changes in mechanical properties.

Effects of neutral gas pressure on calibration parameters of resistive bolometer sensors in fusion devices.

Ambient pressure may influence the thermal path between the absorber and heat sink of resistive bolometers and thus impact the calibration parameters. This effect is investigated for metal resistive bolometer sensors as used in bolometer diagnostics on fusion experiments. Measurements in the test facility IBOVAC indicate that pressure has no effect up to 10-3 mbar. However, a significant change in the cooling time constant is observed for pressures above 10-2 mbar, a reduction up to a factor of three at 1mbar. The measurements performed in N2 and He atmospheres and simulations in H2 indicate no difference between the results from different gas species up to 10-3 mbar and less than 10 % up to 0.1mbar. A model based on the thermal conductivity of the surrounding gas combined with the geometry of the sensor holder successfully demonstrates that the additional cooling path through the gas, which may vary between the measurement and reference absorbers, can explain the measurement results. Applying the model to the geometry of a sensor holder designed for port-mounted bolometer cameras in ITER led to design modifications that should help reduce the impact of high environmental pressures on the bolometer measurements. Similarly, it can be assumed that applying the model to the geometries and sensors of operating bolometer diagnostics can help correct the measurements and improve the understanding of plasma radiation in the case of high pressures at the location of bolometer sensors.

Comprehensive modeling of ignition and combustion of multiscale aluminum particles under various pressure conditions

The ignition and combustion of aluminum particles are crucial to achieve optimal energy release in propulsion and power systems within a limited residence time. This study seeks to develop theoretical ignition and combustion models for aluminum particles ranging from 10 nm to 1000 μm under wide pressure ranges of normal to beyond 10 MPa. Firstly, a parametric analysis illustrates that the convective heat transfer and heterogeneous surface reaction are strongly influenced by pressure, which directly affects the ignition process. Accordingly, the ignition delay time can be correlated with pressure through the pb relationship, with b increasing from –1 to –0.1 as the system transitions from the free molecular regime to the continuum regime. Then, the circuit comparison analysis method was used to interpret an empirical formula capable of predicting the ignition delay time of aluminum particles over a wide range of pressures in N2, O2, H2O, and CO2 atmospheres. Secondly, an analysis of experimental data indicates that the exponents of pressure dependence in the combustion time of large micron-sized particles and nanoparticles are –0.15 and –0.65, respectively. Further, the dominant combustion mechanism of multiscale aluminum particles was quantitatively demonstrated through the Damköhler number (Da) concept. Results have shown that aluminum combustion is mainly controlled by diffusion as Da > 10, by chemical kinetics when Da ≤ 0.1, and codetermined by both diffusion and chemical kinetics when 0.1 < Da ≤ 10. Finally, an empirical formula was proposed to predict the combustion time of multiscale aluminum particles under high pressure, which showed good agreement with available experimental data.

Co-pyrolysis behavior of municipal solid waste and food waste residue: A thermogravimetric study to discern synergistic effect

Effective solid waste disposal necessitates suitable combination and clean conversion technologies to maximize resource utilization. Thus, this study investigates the behavior of co-pyrolysis in municipal solid waste (MSW) and food waste (FW) via thermogravimetric analysis, aiming to discern synergistic effects and optimize waste to energy conversion. The impacts of heating rate and blending ratios were evaluated under an inert N2 atmosphere, within a temperature range of 30–900℃, during single and combined pyrolysis processes respectively. Results revealed slight variations in weight loss patterns and thermal decomposition behavior. When heating rate increased from 10 to 30℃.min−1, decomposition process delayed, resulting in higher initial (Ti), peak (TP), and final (Tf) temperatures due to inadequate heat transfer. As food waste increased, mass loss rose and favorable synergistic effect was observed at 20 % FW during medium temperatures, while other blends showed inhibitory effects. The pyrolytic index (D) rose nonlinearly from 6.29 × 10−7 to 7.72 × 10−7 with a higher FW proportion, peaking at 20 % FW, suggesting an optimal MSW and FW mixing ratio. This blend also exhibited the lowest activation energy, indicating a more efficient thermal decomposition process. Those outcomes offer crucial insights for optimizing co-pyrolysis systems and provide essential information for co-disposal of MSW and FW, potentially reducing pollutant emissions and enhancing waste to energy conversion.

Contribution of oxygen vacancies to phase transition and ferroelectricity of Al:HfO2 films

We investigate the effects of oxygen vacancies on the ferroelectric behavior of Al:HfO2 films annealed in O2 and N2 atmosphere. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results showed that the O/Hf atomic ratio was 1.88 for N2-annealed samples and 1.96 for O2-annealed samples, implying a neutralization of oxygen vacancies during O2 atmosphere annealing. The O2-annealed films exhibited an increasing remanent polarization from 23 μC cm−2 to 28 μC cm−2 after 104 cycles, with a negligible leakage current density of ∼2 μA cm−2, while the remanent polarization decreased from 29 μC cm−2 to 20 μC cm−2 after cycling in the N2-annealed films, with its severe leakage current density decreasing from ∼1200 μA cm−2 to ∼300 μA cm−2. A phase transition from the metastable tetragonal (t) phase to the low-temperature stable orthorhombic (o) phase and monoclinic (m) phase was observed during annealing. As a result of the fierce· competition between the t-to-o transition and the t-to-m transition, clear grain boundaries of several ruleless atomic layers were formed in the N2-annealed samples. On the other hand, the transition from the t-phase to the low-temperature stable phase was found to be hindered by the neutralization of oxygen vacancies, with almost continuous grain boundaries observed. The results elucidate the phase transformation caused by oxygen vacancies in the Al:HfO2 films, which may be helpful for the preparation of HfO2-based films with excellent ferroelectricity.

Improved tribological properties of W-S-C-N film contributed by the friction-induced well crystallized thick transfer layer

Amorphous W-S-C-N lubricating films were prepared by sputtering two WS2 targets and an additional WC target in Ar&N2 atmosphere. The W-S-C-N film demonstrated a notably stable low coefficient of friction (COF) of approximately 0.01, as well as a wear rate of 1.50 × 10-7 mm3/Nm over extended sliding cycles. These characteristics indicated superior tribological properties compared to the deposited WS2, W-S-C, and W-S-N films. The formation of the friction-induced well-crystallized WS2 transfer film with its (002) basal plane parallel to the sliding surface of the counterpart ball contributed to the low friction of the W-S-C-N film. Furthermore, the embedded amorphous and nanocrystalline WC phase within the crystallized WS2-based transfer film further enhanced the stability and durability of the transfer film.

MOF derived cobalt-phospho-boride for rapid hydrogen generation via NaBH4 hydrolysis

Developing effective transition metal catalysts that can replace precious metal-based catalysts for hydrogen generation from the hydrolysis of chemical hydride has attracted extensive interest. This study focuses on synthesizing cobalt phospho-boride (CoPB) within a metal-organic framework (MOF) framework using hydrothermal and chemical reduction methodologies. Incorporating boron and phosphorous into Co-MOF enhances the hydrogen generation rate, reaching 1.8 L/min/g and 3.6 L/min/g for CoB-MOF and CoPB-MOF, respectively, during NaBH4 hydrolysis. Along with the nanostructured morphology of MOF, the electron modulation around Co-sites due to the presence of P and B creates a synergic effect to produce this high H2 generation rate and very low activation energy of 20.7 kJ/mol. The kinetic studies on NaBH4 hydrolysis reaction revealed zero-order kinetics with respect to NaBH4 concentration for CoPB-MOF, where porous morphology renders facile movement of BH4− ions to the active sites. The heat treatment at 773 K in the N2 atmosphere did not show any significant fall in the activity of CoPB-MOF, thus showcasing its robust nature. Moreover, the present catalyst also displayed recycling behavior with no signs of deactivation.

One step synthesis of novel Cu3N/Cu2O/C3N4/Cu composite and their photocatalytic reduction activities

Copper nitride/cuprous oxide/carbon nitride/copper (Cu3N/Cu2O/C3N4/Cu) composite material was synthesized by one step thermal decomposition of copper-melamine complexes under N2 atmosphere. The as-synthesized powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XRD analysis showed the mix phase of Cu3N, Cu2O, C3N4 and Cu. The photocatalytic activities of Cu3N/Cu2O/C3N4/Cu composite photocatalysts were evaluated by testing the photoreduction of chromium (VI) under UV–visible light irradiation. The results indicated that the synthesized samples are attractive photocatalysts for reduction of chromium (VI) under UV light irradiation. The photoreduction efficiencies of Cu3N/Cu2O/C3N4/Cu composite at 550 °C with TEOA induced by UV light within 120 min were 92.03 % caused by charge diffusion at the Cu3N/Cu2O/C3N4/Cu interface. The results indicated that the synthesized samples are attractive photocatalysts for reduction of chromium (VI) under UV light irradiation.

Highly enhanced chloramphenicol adsorption performance of MIL-53-NH2(Al)-derived porous carbons modified with tannic acid

The worldwide demand for antibiotics has experienced a notable surge, propelled by the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and advancements in the global healthcare sector. A prominent challenge confronting humanity is the unregulated release of antibiotic-laden wastewater into the environment, posing significant threats to public health. The adoption of affordable carbon-based adsorbents emerges as a promising strategy for mitigating the contamination of antibiotic wastewater. Here, we report the synthesis of novel porous carbons (MPC) through a direct pyrolysis of MIL-53-NH2(Al) and tannic acid (TANA) under N2 atmosphere at 800 °C for 4 h. The effect of TANA amount ratios (0%–20%, wt wt−1) on porous carbon structure and adsorption performance was investigated. Results showed that TANA modification resulted in decreased surface area (1,600 m2 g−1–949 m2 g−1) and pore volume (2.3 cm3 g−1–1.7 cm3 g−1), but supplied hydroxyl functional groups. Adsorption kinetic, intraparticle diffusion, and isotherm were examined, indicating the best fit of Elovich and Langmuir models. 10%-TANA-MPC obtained an ultrahigh adsorption capacity of 564.4 mg g−1, which was approximately 2.1 times higher than that of unmodified porous carbon. 10%-TANA-MPC could be easily recycled up to 5 times, and after reuse, this adsorbent still remained highly stable in morphology and surface area. The contribution of H bonding, pore-filling, electrostatic and π–π interactions to chloramphenicol adsorption was clarified. It is recommended that TANA-modified MIL-53-NH2(Al)-derived porous carbons act as a potential adsorbent for removal of pollutants effectively.

Cooperative surface multifunctional sites of Pd/Bi2MoO6 nanosheets for precise synthesis of Schiff bases via one-pot photocatalytic coupling of benzyl alcohol and nitrobenzene

Here, Pd nanoparticles (NPs)-decorated Bi2MoO6 nanosheets are created successfully for the photocatalytic coupling of nitrobenzene (NB) and benzyl alcohol (BA) to produce N-Benzylideneaniline (NBA) in N2 atmosphere under visible light. The optimized catalyst (Pd0.75/BMNS) achieves a remarkable conversion of 98.1 % for NB with a high selectivity of 95.1 % towards NBA. Pd0.75/BMNS surface is endowed with a variety of active sites, including oxygen vacancies (Vo), Mo5+, and Pd NPs. In situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) result exhibits that both NB and BA can be activated via the coordination of –N–O···Mo5+ and -C-N···Mo5+, respectively. The presence of Vo and a Schottky junction significantly facilitates the transfer and separation of photogenerated carriers, thereby boosting the catalytic efficiency. The holes and electrons would be transferred to surface for the oxidization of BA to benzaldehyde and reduction of NB to aniline, respectively. Subsequently, a spontaneous reaction for the coupling of aniline and benzaldehyde are occurred to generate NBA. The surface multifunctional sites jointly achieve the high photocatalytic efficiency over Pd0.75/BMNS. This work presents a strategic approach to design photocatalysts with multifunctional active sites for organic synthesis.

Suppressing the thermal conductivity to enhance the thermoelectric performance of SnSe2 using the high-energy ball milling in a pressurised N2 atmosphere

Two-dimensional (2D) layered dichalcogenides possess excellent thermoelectric (TE) properties. Among them, tin diselenide (SnSe2) exhibits n-type semiconducting properties with attractive TE performance near room temperature (RT). However, its high thermal conductivity and relatively low electrical conductivity have limited its TE performance for practical applications. In this study, we significantly suppressed the thermal conductivity and enhanced the TE performance of 2D layered SnSe2 polycrystalline structures by reducing the particle size to the nano-scale using the high-energy ball milling (BM) technique in a pressurised N2 atmosphere. The particle size was reduced from ∼2 μm to 100 nm after 15 h of BM. TE results of a highly pressed compact leg made from the TE-optimised BM sample (e.g. 7 h) showed that at RT, the electrical conductivity increased by a factor of 9, whereas the Seebeck coefficient was reduced by only 40%. Consequently, the power factor increased from 12 to 42 μW/m·K2. In addition, the thermal conductivity decreased from 5.72 to 0.40 W/m·K, resulting in a significant increase in the figure of merit by a factor of 40 times higher than that of the non-BM SnSe2 leg. This study also demonstrated power generation using single-leg modules made from these structures at ΔT values above and below RT. The TE power generation of the BM module was found to be much higher than that of the non-BM module, particularly below RT. The 7-h BM module generated 2600 nW at ΔT = 45 K above RT, but when the same ΔT was applied below RT, the generated power reached 8000 nW. This enhancement in power generation below RT is remarkable, suggesting that the BM SnSe2 compact may be useful for generating measurable TE power in cold environments.