Multiferroic materials, which show simultaneous ferroelectric and magnetic ordering, exhibit unusual physical properties — and in turn promise new device applications — as a result of the coupling between their dual order parameters. We review recent progress in the growth, characterization and understanding of thin-film multiferroics. The availability of high-quality thin-film multiferroics makes it easier to tailor their properties through epitaxial strain, atomic-level engineering of chemistry and interfacial coupling, and is a prerequisite for their incorporation into practical devices. We discuss novel device paradigms based on magnetoelectric coupling, and outline the key scientific challenges in the field.

Multiferroics: progress and prospects in thin films.

High-efficiency thermoelectric (TE) materials are important for power-generation devices that are designed to convert waste heat into electrical energy.They can also be used in solid-state refrigeration devices.The conversion of waste heat into electrical energy may play an important role in our current challenge to develop alternative energy technologies to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. An overview of various TE phenomena and materials is provided in this issue of MRS Bulletin. Several of the current applications and key parameters are defined and discussed.Novel applications of TE materials include biothermal batteries to power heart pacemakers, enhanced performance of optoelectronics coupled with solid-state TE cooling, and power generation for deep-space probes via radioisotope TE generators.A number of different systems of potential TE materials are currently under investigation by various research groups around the world, and many of these materials are reviewed in the articles in this issue.These range from thin-film superlattice materials to large single-crystal or polycrystalline bulk materials, and from semiconductors and semimetals to ceramic oxides.The phonon-glass/electron-crystal approach to new TE materials is presented, along with the role of solid-state crystal chemistry.Research criteria for developing new materials are highlighted.

/pdf/thermoelectric-materials-phenomena-and-applications-a-bird-s-2e5bqpy32n.pdf

Thermoelectric materials, phenomena, and applications : A bird's eye view

Multiferroics, defined for those multifunctional materials in which two or more kinds of fundamental ferroicities coexist, have become one of the hottest topics of condensed matter physics and materials science in recent years. The coexistence of several order parameters in multiferroics brings out novel physical phenomena and offers possibilities for new device functions. The revival of research activities on multiferroics is evidenced by some novel discoveries and concepts, both experimentally and theoretically. In this review, we outline some of the progressive milestones in this stimulating field, especially for those single-phase multiferroics where magnetism and ferroelectricity coexist. First, we highlight the physical concepts of multiferroicity and the current challenges to integrate the magnetism and ferroelectricity into a single-phase system. Subsequently, we summarize various strategies used to combine the two types of order. Special attention is paid to three novel mechanisms for multiferroicity generation: (1) the ferroelectricity induced by the spin orders such as spiral and E-phase antiferromagnetic spin orders, which break the spatial inversion symmetry; (2) the ferroelectricity originating from the charge-ordered states; and (3) the ferrotoroidic system. Then, we address the elementary excitations such as electromagnons, and the application potentials of multiferroics. Finally, open questions and future research opportunities are proposed.

Multiferroicity: the coupling between magnetic and polarization orders

/pdf/nanostructured-thermoelectric-materials-current-research-and-4tijqszszy.pdf

Nanostructured thermoelectric materials: current research and future challenge

Over the past 10–15 years, there have been significant advances in the scientific understanding as well as in the performance of thermoelectric (TE) materials. TE materials can be incorporated into power generation devices that are designed to convert waste heat into useful electrical energy. These TE materials can also be used in solid-state refrigeration devices for cooling applications. The conversion of waste heat into electrical energy will certainly play a role in our current challenge for alternative energy technologies to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This article provides an overview of the various TE phenomena and discusses some of the primary TE materials that are currently being investigated. Several of the key parameters and terminology are defined and discussed along with an overview of some of the current and emerging technologies. The phonon glass–electron crystal approach to new TE materials for developing new materials is presented along wi...

Thermoelectric Phenomena, Materials, and Applications

Structural, electrical, and thermal transport properties of CoSb3 partially filled with indium are reported. Polycrystalline samples of InxCo4Sb12 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) were prepared by solid-state reaction under a gas mixture of 5% H2 and 95% Ar. The solubility limit of the indium filling voids in CoSb3 was found to be close to 0.22. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction refinement of the x = 0.2 sample showed that the indium is located in the classic rattler site and has a substantially larger thermal factor than those of Co and Sb. The electrical resistivity, Seebeck coefficients, and thermal conductivity of the InxCo4Sb12 samples were measured in the temperature range of 300−600 K. All samples showed metal-like behavior, and the large negative Seebeck coefficients indicated n-type conduction. The thermal conductivity decreased with increasing temperature for all samples. A thermoelectric figure-of-merit (ZT) ≥ 1 (n-type) has been achieved when x ≥ 0.2 in InxCo4Sb12 at 575 K.

Thermoelectric Properties of Indium-Filled Skutterudites

Thermoelectric properties of La1−xAxCoO3 (A=Pb, Na)

Thermoelectric Properties of Indium-Filled Skutterudites.

The thermal conductivity of /spl alpha/-Mn is as low as Bi metal and is apparently due its complex crystal structure. The effect of Mn addition (doping and substitution) on the thermoelectric properties of rare earth intermetallics and skutterudites are explored. Although rare earth intermetallics such as YbAl/sub 3/, CePd/sub 3/ show high Seebeck coefficients and electrical conductivities resulting in very high power factors, the high inherent thermal conductivities make them not suitable for thermoelectrics. Mn doping in the YbAl/sub 3/ structure substantially lowers the lattice thermal conductivity without unduly decreasing the power factor thereby increasing the figure of merit (ZT). We have also substituted Mn for Co in CoSb/sub 3/ (without rattlers) resulting in the enhancement of ZT. Although modest enhancement of ZT is shown, this study indicates that the Mn could play an important role in the design strategy of high efficiency thermoelectrics.

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/10188/32527/01519980.pdf

Origin of low thermal conductivity in /spl alpha/-Mn: enhancing the ZT of YbAl/sub 3/ and CoSb/sub 3/ through Mn addition

Polycrystalline samples of La 1 − x A x CoO 3 ( A = Pb , Na) were prepared and their electrical and thermal transport properties are reported in the temperature range of 300 to 600 K. All samples show semiconducting behavior. The parent compound LaCoO3 undergoes a sign change in the Seebeck coefficient at about 400 K from negative to positive with increasing temperature, while Pb and Na doped samples show large positive Seebeck coefficients indicating a p-type conduction in the whole temperature range studied. The thermal conductivity increased with increasing temperatures for all samples arising from increased electrical conductivity as the temperature is raised. The lattice part of the thermal conductivity is suppressed significantly upon Pb substitution. A promising thermoelectric figure-of-merit (ZT) around 0.2 has been achieved for La0.9Pb0.1CoO3 at 575 K.

Thermoelectric Properties of La1-xAxCoO3 (A: Pb, Na).

Handle everyday research tasks with reliable, citation-backed results

Your personal Research Agent to handle research tasks with citation-backed results

Popular Tasks used by Researchers

How can I help with your research?

Meet SciSpace

Get more enhanced response by uploading the PDFs you want me to reference.

No relevant PDFs in your library

SciSpace is the AI research assistant for academics. Run systematic literature reviews on 280M+ papers, and write papers with cited sources. Trusted by 1M+ students, PhDs & researchers.

SciSpace | AI for Research

Analyze PDFs

Code & Manuscripts

Funding & Grants

Literature & Patents

Medical & Clinical Data

Systematic Review

Visualize & Present

Web & Data

Build a Google Scholar-like website for your research.

Build a website

Create charts and images for your research

Create a Chart

Write a paper for submission to a journal

Draft a manuscript

Patent Search

Design eye-catching scientific posters in minutes.

Scientific Poster Generation

Systematic Literature Review

One task is running at the moment. Your messages will be shown right after.

Drag and drop or click here to browse

Loved by <highlight>1 million+</highlight> researchers

Extract a list of specific topics and their sources from unstructured text

Topics

Compare and analyze relevant papers that matches with your search

Papers

Get insights from PDFs and bookmarked papers from your library

My library

Recent searches

Try searching for:

Catch AI-generated content in scholarly and non-scholarly content

{ai} Detector

Ai Writer

Get PDF Summaries, highlighted text explanations 

Chat with PDF

Effortlessly create in-text citations and bibliographies in APA and 2,500 other formats

Citation generator

Get explanations, summaries, and answers on academic papers

Ease up your research workflow with {scispace}'s cohort of exciting AI tools

Elevate your academic writing skills and convey your ideas the way you want

Paraphraser

Explore our range of reading and writing tools

Your file is being prepared and should be ready in a few minutes. If it's a large file, it might take a bit longer. You can close this window, and we'll email you the file when it's done.

You have reached a maximum limit of <strong>{limit}</strong> columns in the table. Remove at least <strong>1</strong> column to add or create another one.

Jiazhong Chen

Author Tools

Chat about Author