| Abstract Scope |
Half-Heusler (HH) phases exhibit outstanding electronic component of their thermoelectric performance. However, their rigid bonding and high-symmetry crystal structure lead to strong phonon transport, which hampers efficiency. In this talk we will prove, that broadening exploration of chemistries within HH family can help overcoming this obstacle. The group of HH compounds based on rare-earth elements will be shown to comprise unique crystallographic defects and exceptionally low thermal conductivity. We will also demonstrate, that changing the number of intrinsic defects can results in metal-insulator transition. Furthermore, we will present finding from our recent high-throughput search of novel HH thermoelectrics, which revealed several chemical tendencies, pointing the way towards future developments. |