Layered oxychalcogenides: Structural chemistry and thermoelectric properties

Layered oxychalcogenides have recently emerged as promising thermoelectric materials. The alternation of ionic oxide and covalent chalcogenide layers found in these materials often results in interesting electronic properties, and also facilitates the tuning of their properties via chemical substitution at both types of layers. This review highlights some common structure types found for layered oxychalcogenides and their interrelationships. This review pays special attention to the potential of these materials for thermoelectric applications, and provides an overview of the thermoelectric properties of materials of current interest, including BiCuSeO.

Graphical abstractThis review provides an overview of the structural chemistry of layered oxychalcogenides, which are described using a building block approach, and of the potential of these materials for thermoelectric applications.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide