Inorganic thermoelectric semiconductors with room temperature plasticity

The rapid growth of wearable electronics, health monitoring, and the Internet of Things has created a tremendous demand for flexible semiconductors and gadgets. Thermoelectric (TE) semiconductors that enable direct conversion between heat and electricity have been utilized as power generators, but their intrinsic brittleness inhibits the application for powering flexible/wearable electronics. The plastic inorganic semiconductors discovered in recent years offer a different option for flexible TE technologies when these materials combine good plasticity and high TE performance at room temperature. In this Perspective, we discuss how room-temperature plasticity affects the manufacturing process and real-world uses in flexible electronics, the trade-off between plasticity and thermoelectric performance, and the underlying deformation mechanisms. Further outlook on the discovery of viable plastic inorganic semiconductors is proposed.