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Defect engineering, achieved by precise tuning of the atomic disorder within crystalline solids, forms a cornerstone of structural chemistry. This nuanced approach holds the potential to significantly augment thermoelectric performance by synergistically manipulating the interplay between the charge carrier and lattice dynamics. Here, the current study presents a distinctive investigation wherein the introduction of Hg doping into AgSbTe 2 serves to partially curtail structural disorder. This strategic maneuver mitigates potential fluctuations originating from pronounced charge and size disparities between Ag + and Sb 3+ , positioned in octahedral sites within the rock salt structure. Hg doping significantly improves the phase stability of AgSbTe 2 by restricting the congenital emergence of the Ag 2 Te minor secondary phase and promotes partial atomic ordering in the cation sublattice. Reduction in atomic disorder coalesced with a complementary modification of electronic structure by Hg doping results in increased carrier mobility. The formation of nanoscale superstructure with sizes (2-5 nm) of the order of phonon mean free path in AgSbTe 2 is further promoted by reduced partial disorder, causes enhanced scattering of heat-carrying phonons, and results in a glass-like ultralow lattice thermal conductivity (∼0.32 W m -1 K -1 at 297 K). Cumulatively, the multifaceted influence of Hg doping, in conjunction with the consequential reduction in disorder, allows achieving a high thermoelectric figure-of-merit, zT , of ∼2.4 at ∼570 K. This result defies conventional paradigms that prioritize increased disorder for optimizing zT .

Organic-inorganic metal halide perovskite films have emerged as potential candidate materials for photoelectric devices because of their superior optoelectronic properties. The performance of these devices depends on the quality of perovskite films defined by their grain size, crystallinity, and absence of pinholes. While solution-based processing is the most cost-effective and scalable approach to producing these films, the impact of the process parameters on the film quality and nanoscale details of these processes are unknown. Specifically, it is unclear how perovskites grow from a liquid precursor to form solid-phase nanocrystals and how these nanocrystals arrange to form a uniform film. Here, using liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we show how perovskite nanocrystals nucleate from a precursor solution and then grow and coalesce to form a polycrystalline film. Furthermore, we show how additives, such as urea, can improve the film crystallinity by increasing perovskite solubility, which induces the dissolution and subsequent redeposition of smaller crystals onto larger grains. Our approach to studying the growth of perovskite films provides an important insight into improving the synthesis of perovskites and other technologically relevant crystalline films.

Efficient manipulation of thermal conductivity and fundamental understanding of the microscopic mechanisms of phonon scattering in crystalline solids are crucial to achieve high thermoelectric performance. Thermoelectric energy conversion directly and reversibly converts between heat and electricity and is a promising renewable technology to generate electricity by recovering waste heat and improve solid-state refrigeration. However, a unique challenge in thermal transport needs to be addressed to achieve high thermoelectric performance: the requirement of crystalline materials with ultralow lattice thermal conductivity (κ L ). A plethora of strategies have been developed to lower κ L in crystalline solids by means of nanostructural modifications, introduction of intrinsic or extrinsic phonon scattering centers with tailored shape and dimension, and manipulation of defects and disorder. Recently, intrinsic local lattice distortion and lattice anharmonicity originating from various mechanisms such as rattling, bonding heterogeneity, and ferroelectric instability have found popularity. In this Perspective, we outline the role of manipulation of chemical bonding and structural chemistry on thermal transport in various high-performance thermoelectric materials. We first briefly outline the fundamental aspects of κ L and discuss the current status of the popular phonon scattering mechanisms in brief. Then we discuss emerging new ideas with examples of crystal structure and lattice dynamics in exemplary materials. Finally, we present an outlook for focus areas of experimental and theoretical challenges, possible new directions, and integrations of novel techniques to achieve low κ L in order to realize high-performance thermoelectric materials.

Fundamental understanding of the correlation between chemical bonding and lattice dynamics in intrinsically low thermal conductive crystalline solids is important to thermoelectrics, thermal barrier coating, and more recently to photovoltaics. Two-dimensional (2D) layered halide perovskites have recently attracted widespread attention in optoelectronics and solar cells. Here, we discover intrinsically ultralow lattice thermal conductivity (κ L ) in the single crystal of all-inorganic layered Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) perovskite, Cs 2 PbI 2 Cl 2 , synthesized by the Bridgman method. We have measured the anisotropic κ L value of the Cs 2 PbI 2 Cl 2 single crystal and observed an ultralow κ L value of ∼0.37-0.28 W/mK in the temperature range of 295-523 K when measured along the crystallographic c -axis. First-principles density functional theory (DFT) analysis of the phonon spectrum uncovers the presence of soft (frequency ∼18-55 cm -1 ) optical phonon modes that constitute relatively flat bands due to localized vibrations of Cs and I atoms. A further low energy optical mode exists at ∼12 cm -1 that originates from dynamic octahedral rotation around Pb caused by anharmonic vibration of Cl atoms induced by a 3s 2 lone pair. We provide experimental evidence for such low energy optical phonon modes with low-temperature heat capacity and temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopic measurements. The strong anharmonic coupling of the low energy optical modes with acoustic modes causes damping of heat carrying acoustic phonons to ultrasoft frequency (maximum ∼37 cm -1 ). The combined effect of soft elastic layered structure, abundance of low energy optical phonons, and strong acoustic-optical phonon coupling results in an intrinsically ultralow κ L value in the all-inorganic layered RP perovskite Cs 2 PbI 2 Cl 2 .

The orthorhombic phase of GeSe, a structural analogue of layered SnSe (space group: Pnma ), has recently attracted attention after a theoretical prediction of high thermoelectric figure of merit, zT > 2. The experimental realization of such high performance in orthorhombic GeSe, however, is still elusive (zT ≈ 0.2). The rhombohedral phase of GeSe, a structural analogue of GeTe (space group: R 3 m ), previously stabilized at high pressure (2 GPa) and high temperature (1600 K), is promising due to its theoretically predicted ferroelectric instability and the higher earth abundance of Se compared to Te. Here, we demonstrate high thermoelectric performance in the rhombohedral crystals of GeSe, which is stabilized at ambient conditions by alloying with 10 mol % AgBiSe 2 . We show ultralow lattice thermal conductivity (κ L ) of 0.74-0.47 W/mK in the 300-723 K range and high zT ≈ 1.25 at 723 K in the p -type rhombohedral (GeSe) 0.9 (AgBiSe 2 ) 0.1 crystals grown using Bridgman method. First-principles density functional theoretical analysis reveals its vicinity to a ferroelectric instability which generates large anomalous Born effective charges and strong coupling of low energy polar optical phonons with acoustic phonons. The presence of soft optical phonons and incipient ferroelectric instability in (GeSe) 0.9 (AgBiSe 2 ) 0.1 are directly evident in the low temperature heat capacity ( C p ) and switching spectroscopy piezoresponse force microscopy (SS-PFM) experiments, respectively. Effective scattering of heat carrying acoustic phonons by ferroelectric instability induced soft transverse optical phonons significantly reduces the κ L and enhances the thermoelectric performance in rhombohedral (GeSe) 0.9 (AgBiSe 2 ) 0.1 crystals.

Successful applications of a thermoelectric material require simultaneous development of compatible n- and p-type counterparts. While the thermoelectric performance of p-type GeTe has been improved tremendously in recent years, it has been a challenge to find a compatible n-type GeTe counterpart due to the prevalence of intrinsic Ge vacancies. Herein, we have shown that alloying of AgBiSe 2 with GeTe results in an intriguing evolution in its crystal and electronic structures, resulting in n-type thermoelectric properties. We have demonstrated that the ambient rhombohedral structure of pristine GeTe transforms into cubic phase in (GeTe) 100- x (AgBiSe 2 ) x for x ≥ 25, with concurrent change from its p-type electronic character to n-type character in electronic transport properties. Such change in structural and electronic properties is confirmed from the nonmonotonic variation of band gap, unit cell volume, electrical conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient, all of which show an inflection point around x ∼ 20, as well as from the temperature variations of synchrotron powder X-ray diffractions and differential scanning calorimetry. First-principles density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations explain that the shift toward n-type electronic character with increasing AgBiSe 2 concentration arises due to increasing contribution of Bi p orbitals in the conduction band edge of (GeTe) 100- x (AgBiSe 2 ) x . This cubic n-type phase has promising thermoelectric properties with a band gap of ∼0.25 eV and ultralow lattice thermal conductivity that ranges between 0.3 and 0.6 W/mK. Further, we have shown that (GeTe) 100- x (AgBiSe 2 ) x has promising thermoelectric performance in the mid-temperature range (400-500 K) with maximum thermoelectric figure of merit, zT , reaching ∼1.3 in p-type (GeTe) 80 (AgBiSe 2 ) 20 at 467 K and ∼0.6 in n-type (GeTe) 50 (AgBiSe 2 ) 50 at 500 K.

Sub-10 fs resolution pump-probe experiments on methylammonium lead halide perovskite films are described. Initial response to photoexcitation is assigned to localized hot excitons which dissociate to free carriers. This is attested to by band integrals of the pump-probe spectra where photoinduced bleaching rises abruptly 20 fs after photoexcitation. Later stages of spectral evolution are consistent with hot carrier cooling, during which state filling induced bleaching of interband and exciton transitions curiously more than doubles. Electron coupling to optical phonons is observed as periodic spectral modulations in the pump-probe data of both films. Fourier analysis identifies active phonons at ∼100 and 300 wavenumbers pertaining to the lead-halide framework and organic cation motions, respectively. Coupling strengths estimated from the depth of these modulations are in the weak coupling limit, in agreement with values extracted from temperature dependent emission line shape analysis. These findings support free carriers in these materials existing as large polarons. Accordingly, these modes are probably not dictating the moderate carrier mobility in this material.

[Mn3O(O2CMe)3(dpd)3/2)]2(I3)2 has been obtained from the reaction of 1,3-di(pyridin-2-yl)propane-1,3-dione dioxime (dpdH2) with triangular [Mn(III)3O(O2CMe)(py)3](ClO4). It comprises two [Mn(III)3O](7+) triangular units linked covalently by three dioximate ligands into a [Mn3]2 dimer. Solid state dc and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that each Mn3 subunit of the dimer is a separate single-molecule magnet (SMM) with an S = 6 ground state and that the two SMM units are very weakly ferromagnetically exchange coupled. High-frequency EPR spectroscopy on a single crystal displays signal splittings indicative of quantum superposition/entanglement of the two SMMs, and parallel studies on MeCN/toluene (1:1) frozen solutions reveal the same spectral features. The dimer thus retains its structure and inter-Mn3 coupling upon dissolution. This work establishes that covalently linked molecular oligomers of exchange-coupled SMMs can be prepared that retain their oligomeric nature and attendant inter-SMM quantum mechanical coupling in solution, providing a second phase for their study and demonstrating the feasibility of using solution methods for their deposition on surfaces and related substrates for study.

We report on a new class of core-shell electrocatalysts for the oxygen-reduction reaction. These electrocatalysts comprise a Pt monolayer shell and ordered intermetallic compounds cores and have enhanced activity and stability compared with conventional ones. These advantages are derived from combining the unique properties of Pt monolayer catalysts (high activity, low metal content) and of the intermetallic compounds (high stability and, possibly, low price). This method holds excellent potential for creating efficient fuel cell electrocatalysts.

We report results on the pressure effects on hydrophobic interactions obtained from molecular dynamics simulations of aqueous solutions of methanes in water. A wide range of pressures that is relevant to pressure denaturation of proteins is investigated. The characteristic features of water-mediated interactions between hydrophobic solutes are found to be pressure-dependent. In particular, with increasing pressure we find that (1) the solvent-separated configurations in the solute-solute potential of mean force (PMF) are stabilized with respect to the contact configurations; (2) the desolvation barrier increases monotonically with respect to both contact and solvent-separated configurations; (3) the locations of the minima and the barrier move toward shorter separations; and (4) pressure effects are considerably amplified for larger hydrophobic solutes. Together, these observations lend strong support to the picture of the pressure denaturation process proposed previously by Hummer et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1998, 95, 1552): with increasing pressure, the transfer of water into protein interior becomes key to the pressure denaturation process, leading to the dissociation of close hydrophobic contacts and subsequent swelling of the hydrophobic protein interior through insertions of water molecules. The pressure dependence of the PMF between larger hydrophobic solutes shows that pressure effects on the interaction between hydrophobic amino acids may be considerably amplified compared to those on the methane-methane PMF.