Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties of Cu x Se (1.75≤ x ≤2.10) during Phase Transitions

Coupling of a phase transition to electron and phonon transports provides extra degree of freedom to improve the thermoelectric performance, while the pertinent experimental and theoretical studies are still rare. Particularly, the impaction of chemical compositions and phase transition characters on the abnormal thermoelectric properties across phase transitions are largely unclear. Herein, by varying the Cu content x from 1.75 to 2.10, we systemically investigate the crystal structural evolution, phase transition features, and especially the thermoelectric properties during the phase transition for Cu x Se. It is found that the addition of over-stoichiometry Cu in Cu x Se could alter the phase transition characters and suppress the formation of Cu vacancies. The critical scatterings of phonons and electrons during phase transitions strongly enhance the Seebeck coefficient and diminish the thermal conductivity, leading to an ultrahigh dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit of ∼1.38 at 397 K in Cu2.10Se. With the decreasing Cu content, the critical electron and phonon scattering behaviors are mitigated, and the corresponding thermoelectric performances are reduced. This work offers inspirations for understanding and tuning the thermoelectric transport properties during phase transitions.

The coupling and competition of crystallization and phase separation, correlating thermodynamics and kinetics in OPV morphology and performances

The active layer morphology transition of organic photovoltaics under non-equilibrium conditions are of vital importance in determining the device power conversion efficiency and stability; however, a general and unified picture on this issue has not been well addressed. Using combined in situ and ex situ morphology characterizations, morphological parameters relating to kinetics and thermodynamics of morphology evolution are extracted and studied in model systems under thermal annealing. The coupling and competition of crystallization and demixing are found to be critical in morphology evolution, phase purification and interfacial orientation. A unified model summarizing different phase diagrams and all possible kinetic routes is proposed. The current observations address the fundamental issues underlying the formation of the complex multi-length scale morphology in bulk heterojunction blends and provide useful morphology optimization guidelines for processing devices with higher efficiency and stability.

Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties of Novel γ/γ′ Two-Phase Strengthened Ir-Based Superalloys

Ir-based superalloys are irreplaceable in some specific harsh conditions regardless of their cost and high density. In order to develop a new class of Ir-based superalloy for future ultrahigh-temperature applications, the microstructure evolution, phase relationships, and mechanical properties of Ir–Al–W–Ta alloys with γ/γ′ two-phase structure were investigated. Room- and high-temperature compressions at 1300 °C, and room-temperature nanoindentation for the Ta-containing Ir–6Al–13W alloys were conducted. The results show that the addition of Ta can significantly improve the high-temperature mechanical properties, but does not change the fracture mode of the Ir-based two-phase superalloys. The compressive strength of quaternary alloys can be attributed to the precipitation of γ′-Ir3(Al, W) phase and solid solution strengthening. The microstructure and mechanical properties of Ir–Al–W–Ta quaternary alloys exhibit promising characteristics for the development of high-temperature materials.