Neutron probes of the atomic structure and dynamics of tin-based thermoelectric materials unraveled the microscopic mechanism for their low thermal conductivity. Credit: Oak Ridge National LaboratoryThermoelectric devices turn thermal energy into electricity by creating a voltage from the temperature differential between the hot and cold sections of a device.
This connection influences how heat is conducted by the materials. The study also identified the ideal temperatures for energy conversion. It also provided fundamental scientific insights that may be used to assist researchers to create new materials with improved thermoelectric performance.Thermoelectric materials are critical for clean energy technology. Researchers used neutron scattering to uncover details about the phonon renormalization mechanism.
By using the advanced neutron scattering instruments at the Spallation Neutron Source and High Flux Isotope Reactor,