Chevrel Phases as Potential Thermoelectric Materials

Crystalline phases of compounds of general composition (Cuw, CuxFey, or Tiz)Mo6Se8 [where w<4, x<2, y<1, and z<1] have been investigated for potential utility as thermoelectric materials for generation of electric power from waste-heat and other thermal sources. These phases are a subset of a set of ternary chalcogenide compounds named Chevrel compounds or phases after one of the researchers who first synthesized them in 1971. As explained below, relatively low thermal conductivity is an outstanding aspect of these compounds that makes them potentially attractive for thermoelectric applications.