A Review on Silicide-Based Materials: Thermoelectric and Mechanical Properties

Silicide-based thermoelectric (TE) materials are promising candidates for automotive TE generators, which can collect wasted heat and convert it into electricity. Adequate strategies should be used to manufacture highly efficient silicide-based TE devices. This review summarizes novel strategies for obtaining materials that feature excellent TE properties and mechanical reliability. Controlling the carrier concentration and band structure could increase their electronic transport properties, while nanostructure engineering could effectively reduce their lattice thermal conductivity. Moreover, well designed microstructures are required to obtain mechanically reliable TE materials, which indicates that precisely controlling their nanostructure is essential for the improved trade-off relationship between TE and mechanical properties. While many challenges should still be overcome, the development of highly efficient TE materials and devices could represent new solutions for the global energy crisis. Graphic Abstract