Korean scientists have managed to produce silver selenide in a simpler and more environmentally friendly way, reducing the need for extreme pressures and temperatures to manufacture thermoelectric materials.
Researchers at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) have developed a new thermoelectric material which can significantly improve the conversion of heat to electricity, offering promising applications in energy recovery and next-generation electronics.
The innovation focuses on a material made from Seleneto de Prata (Ag₂Se), which scientists produced through a simpler and more environmentally friendly process than traditional methods.
Their findings, in the journal Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials, describe a scalable approach that reduces the need for extreme temperatures and pressures normally required in the manufacture of thermoelectric materials.
Thermoelectric materials are capable of converting heat directly into electricity and vice versa, making them highly attractive for technologies such as electronic cooling systems and the waste heat capture from industrial operations. However, producing high-performance versions of these materials has historically been complex and energy-intensive.
The KRICT team solved this challenge by creating prata selenetum nanoparticles through a solutions-based process. They then improved the material by adding extra selenium, forming a selenium-rich composition known as Ag₂Se₁,₂. A relatively simple heat treatment step allowed the particles to fuse into a dense, high-performance solid.
A key factor in the material’s effectiveness lies in selenium’s low melting point. During heating, selenium becomes liquid and fills the microscopic gaps between particles, improving structural density and connectivity. This process increases electrical conductivity and reduces heat transfer through the material, two critical factors for efficient thermoelectric performance, explains .
In laboratory tests, the material demonstrated impressive results, reaching a high “merit index”a standard measure of thermoelectric efficiency, along with increased mechanical strength. The researchers also noted that the material is adaptable to different shapes, meaning it can be molded into curved or flexible structures without losing performance.
This flexibility paves the way for a wide range of applications. In the short term, the technology could be used in small-scale energy systems that convert waste heat from factories, data centers or solar thermal power facilities into usable electricity. In the long term, this could enable self-sufficient wearable devices, including health monitoring sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.
