BUSCADOR RECOLECTA

29 pages. -- Content: The tracking process of adsorption of CdSe species on the SnSe surface; XRD patterns of SnSe and SnSe-x%CdSe nanocomposites; SEM images of SnSe-3%CdSe nanocomposites at the different stages; SEM images of annealed SnSe-x%CdSe nanopowders; Grain size evolution study for bare SnSe and SnSe-3%CdSe; SEM images at different magnifications of SnSe and SnSe-3%CdSe pellets; EBSD microstructure of SnSe and SnSe-3%CdSe pellets; XRD pattern of recrystallized CdSe; SEM images of annealed SnSe powder at 350°C; EDS elemental mapping for SnSe-3%CdSe; Surface treatment; Thermogravimetric analyses; SnSe-CdSe phase diagram; High-temperature XRD analyses of SnSe and SnSe-3%CdSe; Lattice parameters and unit cell volume of SnSe-3%PbS pellet; TE properties of SnSe-CdSe samples with different content of CdSe; Band structure changes in SnSe induced by the CdSe NPs; TE properties of SnSe and SnSe-3%CdSe measured in parallel direction; Heat capacity Cp of SnSe-3%CdSe; Percentage variations in the TE properties of SnSe-x%CdSe compared to SnSe; Lattice thermal conductivity (κL) calculation; Literature comparison; TEM images of SnSe-3%CdSe sample; Material stability and repeatability; Cylindrical pellet cutting; Theoretical zT prediction; Pellet density and composition; References., SnSe has emerged as one of the most promising materials for thermoelectric energy conversion due to its extraordinary performance in its single-crystal form and its low-cost constituent elements. However, to achieve an economic impact, the polycrystalline counterpart needs to replicate the performance of the single crystal. Herein, we optimize the thermoelectric performance of polycrystalline SnSe produced by consolidating solution-processed and surface-engineered SnSe particles. In particular, the SnSe particles are coated with CdSe molecular complexes that crystallize during the sintering process, forming CdSe nanoparticles. The presence of CdSe nanoparticles inhibits SnSe grain growth during the consolidation step due to Zener pinning, yielding a material with a high density of grain boundaries. Moreover, the resulting SnSe–CdSe nanocomposites present a large number of defects at different length scales, which significantly reduce the thermal conductivity. The produced SnSe–CdSe nanocomposites exhibit thermoelectric figures of merit up to 2.2 at 786 K, which is among the highest reported for solution-processed SnSe., Peer reviewed