High-entropy-stabilized chalcogenides with high thermoelectric performance

Distorted thermal properties Thermoelectric devices can convert waste heat into electricity, providing one path for improving energy efficiency. Jiang et al. leveraged entropy engineering to synthesize a single-phase high-entropy alloy with attractive thermoelectric properties. By increasing the number of elements in the alloy, the resulting disorder helps to stabilize against breakdown into multiple phases. The disordered and distorted crystal lattice suppresses thermal transport while maintaining the electrical properties, which boosts the heat-conversion efficiency of the material. Science , this issue p. 830