@article{21001,
abstract = {Copper chalcogenides offer high charge mobility and low lattice thermal conductivity but suffer from structural instability due to dynamic Cu+ migration. Here, we report a colloidal hot-injection synthesis of ternary cesium copper selenide (CsCu5Se3) nanocrystals (NCs), achieving precise control over phase, size, and morphology through tailored precursor-ligand modulation. This strategy enabled systematic exploration of stable and metastable Cs–Cu–Se phases and mechanistic investigation of nucleation and growth, providing insight into phase modulation and dimensional control at the nanoscale. CsCu5Se3 NCs exhibit low lattice thermal conductivity (∼0.5 Wm–1K–1) and an experimental zT of 0.27 at 718 K. Complementary first-principles calculations, consistent with experimental electronic and optical responses, predict a zT of 1.05 at 1000 K. These findings elucidate the formation dynamics of CsCu5Se3 and establish ABZ (A = alkali, B = metal, Z = chalcogen) NCs as tunable platforms for advanced functional applications.},
author = {Patil, Niraj Nitish and Wu, Ruiqi and Fiedler, Christine and Kapuria, Nilotpal and Nan, Bingfei and Navita, Navita and Cabot, Andreu and Ibáñez, Maria and Ryan, Kevin M. and Ganose, Alex M. and Singh, Shalini},
issn = {2380-8195},
journal = {ACS Energy Letters},
number = {1},
pages = {481--488},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
title = {{Layered alkali-copper selenides: Deciphering thermoelectric properties and reaction pathways for nanostructuring β-CsCu5Se3}},
doi = {10.1021/acsenergylett.5c02909},
volume = {11},
year = {2026},
}
@article{21037,
abstract = {The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) remains a critical bottleneck in fuel cells and metal-air batteries due to the lack of highly efficient electrocatalysts. Here, we report a simple strategy for synthesizing a palladium-based heterostructured electrocatalyst supported on a carbon nitride matrix (PdH-Pd@CN), which exhibits remarkable ORR activity with a half-wave potential of 0.91 V and excellent durability in 0.1 M KOH. Within the heterostructure, hydrogen intercalation expands the Pd lattice, while interstitial hydrogen doping facilitates charge transfer from Pd to H owing to their electronegativity difference. These synergistic effects modulate the electronic structure, thereby enhancing both activity and stability. When employed in Zn-air batteries, PdH-Pd@CN delivers a maximum power density of 176 mW cm− (Liu et al., 2025) and capacity of 805 mAh g− (Sun et al., 2021) Zn. These findings demonstrate the strong potential of PdH-Pd@CN as an efficient ORR electrocatalyst for next-generation metal-air batteries and related energy technologies.},
author = {Shi, Changwei and Horta, Sharona and Ibáñez, Maria and Kallio, Tanja and Martínez-Alanis, Paulina R. and Wang, Xiang and Cabot, Andreu},
issn = {0009-2509},
journal = {Chemical Engineering Science},
publisher = {Elsevier},
title = {{Hydrogen induced palladium-based heterojunction electrocatalysts to enhance the oxygen reduction reaction performance}},
doi = {10.1016/j.ces.2026.123348},
volume = {324},
year = {2026},
}
@article{21750,
abstract = {Liquid-like superionic conductors, with highly mobile ions in a rigid framework, offer intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity without compromising electronic transport. Argyrodite-type Ag8SnSe6 exhibits a melt-like Ag sublattice that drives lattice thermal conductivity (κL) below 0.2 watts per meter per kelvin, yet its low carrier concentration limits the power factor. Here, interstitial Ag atoms raise the Fermi level into the conduction band, substantially increasing the electron concentration. Simultaneously, the formation of a secondary Ag2Se phase generates lattice distortions that enhance phonon scattering. A pronounced mismatch between electronic (~200 nanometers) and phononic (~0.22 nanometers) mean free paths decouples charge and heat transport, enabling concurrent suppression of κL and retention of high electrical conductivity. This coupled electronic-phononic modulation yields a record ZT of 0.72 at ambient temperature and a peak ZT of 1.1 at 735 kelvins, with an average ZTavg of 0.72 over 320 to 735 kelvins. A unicouple device achieves 6.3% efficiency under a 357-kelvin gradient, highlighting a practical strategy for high-performance midtemperature thermoelectrics.},
author = {Li, Mengyao and Zhao, Xueke and Zhang, Yu and Yu, Jing and Liu, Xuyang and Jia, Mochen and Song, Hongzhang and Wang, Dongyang and Arbiol, Jordi and Ibáñez, Maria and Shan, Chongxin and Cabot, Andreu and Wang, Ziyu},
issn = {2375-2548},
journal = {Science Advances},
number = {15},
publisher = {AAAS},
title = {{Electronic-phononic decoupling and Fermi-level tuning enable high thermoelectric performance in Ag8SnSe6}},
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.aec9073},
volume = {12},
year = {2026},
}
@article{18707,
abstract = {Lead Sulfide (PbS) has garnered attention as a promising thermoelectric (TE) material due to its natural abundance and cost-effectiveness. However, its practical application is hindered by inherently high lattice thermal conductivity and low electrical conductivity. In this study, we address these challenges by surface functionalization of PbS nanocrystals using Cu2S molecular complexes-based ligand displacement. The molecular complexes facilitate the incorporation of Cu into the PbS matrix and leads to the formation of nanoscale defects, dislocations, and strain fields while optimizing the charge carrier transport. The structural modulations enhance the phonon scattering and lead to a significant reduction in lattice thermal conductivity of 0.60 W m−1K−1 at 867 K in the PbS-Cu2S system. Simultaneously, the Cu incorporation improves electrical conductivity by increasing both carrier concentration and mobility with carefully optimized the content of Cu2S molecular complexes. These synergistic modifications yield a peak figure-of-merit (zT) of 1.05 at 867 K for the PbS-1.0 %Cu2S sample, representing an almost twofold enhancement in TE performance compared to pristine PbS. This work highlights the effectiveness of surface treatment in overcoming the intrinsic limitations of PbS-based materials and presents a promising strategy for the development of high-efficiency TE systems.},
author = {Shu, Haibo and Zhao, Mingjun and Lu, Shaoqing and Wan, Shanhong and Genç, Aziz and Huang, Lulu and Ibáñez, Maria and Lim, Khak Ho and Hong, Min and Liu, Yu},
issn = {1095-7103},
journal = {Journal of Colloid and Interface Science},
pages = {703--712},
publisher = {Elsevier},
title = {{Influence of surface engineering on the transport properties of lead sulfide nanomaterials}},
doi = {10.1016/j.jcis.2024.12.067},
volume = {683},
year = {2025},
}
@article{19779,
abstract = {The transverse thermoelectric (Nernst) effect is a powerful probe for studying the electronic and structural properties of materials. In this study, we employ transverse thermoelectric measurements to investigate the ferroelectric distortion in the topological crystalline insulator (TCI) Pb0.60Sn0.40Te, a compound derived from PbTe and SnTe, known for their exceptional thermoelectric performance and distinct ferroelectric properties. By leveraging Nernst measurements, we provide direct evidence of ferroelectric distortion in this TCI, corroborated by Shubnikov–de Haas quantum oscillations that confirm the presence of two topologically nontrivial Fermi pockets. Density functional theory calculations show that these pockets originate from the L and T points in the Brillouin zone of the distorted structure within the TCI phase. Raman spectroscopy further identifies a structural phase transition below 50 K, consistent with the quantum oscillation observations. This observation is further substantiated by temperature-dependent synchrotron X-ray pair distribution function analysis and transmission electron microscopy, which confirm the local off-centering of cations at low temperature. These findings underscore the potential of transverse thermoelectric measurements in unveiling ferroelectric distortions and their role in modulating topological quantum states, opening new directions for research into the synergy between ferroelectricity and topological phases.},
author = {Negi, Pranav and He, Bin and Ukolov, Denis and Horta, Sharona and Maji, Krishnendu and Mao, Ning and Peshcherenko, Nikolai and Yanda, Premakumar and Yao, Mengyu and Dutta, Moinak and Robredo, Iñigo and Iraola, Mikel and Vergniory, Maia G. and Lemmens, Peter and Zhang, Yang and Shekhar, Chandra and Ibáñez, Maria and Felser, Claudia and Roychowdhury, Subhajit},
issn = {1520-5126},
journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society},
number = {22},
pages = {18704--18711},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
title = {{Evidence of ferroelectric distortions in topological crystalline insulators via transverse thermoelectric measurements}},
doi = {10.1021/jacs.5c01700},
volume = {147},
year = {2025},
}
@inproceedings{20055,
abstract = {Supercrystals represent three-dimensional orderings of colloidal nanocrystals (NCs), showcasing collective properties in photonics, phononics, and electronics applications.1,2 Recent studies have shown that such assemblies are directly produced during nanocrystal reactions.3–6 However, a fundamental understanding of in situ formed supercrystals that withstand typical NC purification processes remains underexplored, which is important for further use. Herein, we report the reaction precursor-mediated formation of stable PbTe supercrystals. Rationalizing the formation of these assemblies through small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements, we unveil their formation mechanism. Our findings reveal that the supercrystal formation occurs in the presence of an excess of lead oleates in the crude solution. It should be noted that the formed supercrystals can be stabilized under specific conditions determined by the lead oleate cluster concentration, content of trioctylphosphine telluride (TOP-Te), NC size and the need of an annealing step at mild conditions. Furthermore, this approach allows for the continuous growth of a secondary phase within the supercrystal; for example in the case of PbTe supercrystals, a PbS shell can be grown on each PbTe NC constituent, resulting in core-shell PbTe-PbS supercrystals. Our work elucidates that reaction precursors play an important role in in situ SC formation and stabilization, implying the possibility of applying this knowledge to other NC reactions.},
author = {Lee, Seungho and Balazs, Daniel and Horta, Sharona and Rayaroth Puthiyaveettil, Aiswarya and Ibáñez, Maria},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the MATSUS Spring 2025 Conference},
location = {Sevilla, Spain},
publisher = {Fundació de la comunitat valenciana SCITO},
title = {{Reaction precursor-mediated formation of stable supercrystals in colloidal nanocrystal synthesis: PbTe case}},
doi = {10.29363/nanoge.matsusspring.2025.173},
year = {2025},
}
@article{20191,
abstract = {High-entropy alloys (HEAs) show great potential for catalyzing complex multi-step reactions, but optimizing their parameters, i.e., composition, but also their crystallinity and morphology, remains a significant challenge. In this study, FeCoNiMoW HEAs are synthesized into either amorphous nanosheets (HEANS) or crystalline nanoparticles (HEANP), which are then used to catalyze the lithium–sulfur (Li–S) reaction of Li–S batteries (LSBs). Evaluations in symmetric cells, coin cells, and pouch cells reveal that HEANS significantly enhance LSB performance, achieving initial discharge capacities up to 1632 mAh g−1. The batteries also exhibit excellent cycling stability over 1000 cycles at 3Cand maintain high-rate performance up to 10C with a capacity of 614 mAh g−1. Comprehensive in situ analyses and density functional theory calculations demonstrate that amorphous HEANS provide more active sites, better ionic conductivity and stronger chemical interactions with lithium polysulfides (LiPS). These properties effectively suppress the shuttle effect, promote the complete S8 → Li2S conversion by reducing the impedance of the solid-electrolyte interphase, and accelerate the Li2S4 → Li2S2 step by lowering the nucleation energy barrier. Overall, this study highlights the superior catalytic properties of amorphous 2D HEAs in LSBs and offers new insights into the mechanisms of LiPS conversion.},
author = {He, Ren and Lee, Seungho and Ding, Yang and Huang, Chen and Lu, Xuan and Zheng, Lirong and Yu, Ao and Zhang, Chaoyue and Li, Canhuang and Bi, Xiaoyu and Li, Yaqiang and Liao, Yaqi and Li, Junshan and Ostovari Moghaddam, Ahmad and Yernar, Salimov and Xu, Ying and Ibáñez, Maria and Zhang, Chaoqi and Yang, Linlin and Zhou, Yingtang and Cabot, Andreu},
issn = {1616-3028},
journal = {Advanced Functional Materials},
publisher = {Wiley},
title = {{Amorphous high entropy alloy nanosheets enabling robust Li–S batteries}},
doi = {10.1002/adfm.202513859},
year = {2025},
}
@article{20252,
abstract = {Zirconia nanocrystals (ZrO2 NCs) are a stable host material for lanthanides, but their performance lags behind that of the leading NaYF4 nanomaterials. Here, we leverage surface chemistry and core/shell architectures to uncover the contribution of dopants at the nanocrystal surface and of dopants in the nanocrystal bulk. We first assess the doping efficiency by ICP and find that, while Eu is almost quantitatively incorporated, the other lanthanides (La, Ce, Tb, Tm, Er, Yb) have about 50% incorporation efficiency over the studied doping range of 1–10%. We then determine the nanocrystal surface chemistry using NMR spectroscopy, despite the additional spectral line broadening caused by the paramagnetic lanthanide dopants. By varying the surface ligands and measuring the photoluminescence, we resolve the spectroscopic signals that are sensitive to a change in surface chemistry. Time-resolved emission spectra further reinforce the notion of a bulk component with a long luminescent lifetime and a surface component with a fast lifetime. Upon shelling Eu- or Tb-doped zirconia NCs with pure zirconia, the surface component disappears, and the photoluminescence quantum yield increases. We further functionalized the surface of the core/shell particles with oleylphosphonic acid ligands to obtain excellent dispersibility. These results show that lanthanide-doped zirconia NCs can be engineered to eliminate deactivation pathways.},
author = {Reichholf, Nico and Horta, Sharona and Van Der Heggen, David and Seno, Carlotta and Pulparayil Mathew, Jikson and Ibáñez, Maria and Smet, Philippe F. and De Roo, Jonathan},
issn = {1936-086X},
journal = {ACS Nano},
number = {33},
pages = {30371--30382},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
title = {{Identification and elimination of surface emission in lanthanide (Co)doped zirconia nanocrystals}},
doi = {10.1021/acsnano.5c09137},
volume = {19},
year = {2025},
}
@article{20329,
abstract = {Nanocrystals (NCs) of various compositions have made important contributions to science and technology, with their impact recognized by the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery and synthesis of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). Over four decades of research into NCs has led to numerous advancements in diverse fields, such as optoelectronics, catalysis, energy, medicine, and recently, quantum information and computing. The last 10 years since the predecessor perspective “Prospect of Nanoscience with Nanocrystals” was published in ACS Nano have seen NC research continuously evolve, yielding critical advances in fundamental understanding and practical applications. Mechanistic insights into NC formation have translated into precision control over NC size, shape, and composition. Emerging synthesis techniques have broadened the landscape of compounds obtainable in colloidal NC form. Sophistication in surface chemistry, jointly bolstered by theoretical models and experimental findings, has facilitated refined control over NC properties and represents a trusted gateway to enhanced NC stability and processability. The assembly of NCs into superlattices, along with two-dimensional (2D) photolithography and three-dimensional (3D) printing, has expanded their utility in creating materials with tailored properties. Applications of NCs are also flourishing, consolidating progress in fields targeted early on, such as optoelectronics and catalysis, and extending into areas ranging from quantum technology to phase-change memories. In this perspective, we review the extensive progress in research on NCs over the past decade and highlight key areas where future research may bring further breakthroughs.},
author = {Ibáñez, Maria and Boehme, Simon C. and Buonsanti, Raffaella and De Roo, Jonathan and Milliron, Delia J. and Ithurria, Sandrine and Rogach, Andrey L. and Cabot, Andreu and Yarema, Maksym and Cossairt, Brandi M. and Reiss, Peter and Talapin, Dmitri V. and Protesescu, Loredana and Hens, Zeger and Infante, Ivan and Bodnarchuk, Maryna I. and Ye, Xingchen and Wang, Yuanyuan and Zhang, Hao and Lhuillier, Emmanuel and Klimov, Victor I. and Utzat, Hendrik and Rainò, Gabriele and Kagan, Cherie R. and Cargnello, Matteo and Son, Jae Sung and Kovalenko, Maksym V.},
issn = {1936-086X},
journal = {ACS Nano},
number = {36},
pages = { 31969–32051},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
title = {{Prospects of nanoscience with nanocrystals: 2025 edition}},
doi = {10.1021/acsnano.5c07838},
volume = {19},
year = {2025},
}
@article{20405,
abstract = {Dielectric breakdown of physical vacuum (Schwinger effect) is the textbook demonstration of compatibility of Relativity and Quantum theory. Although observing this effect is still practically unachievable, its analogue generalizations have been shown to be more readily attainable. This paper demonstrates that a gapped Dirac semiconductor, methylammonium lead-bromide perovskite (MAPbBr3), exhibits analogue dynamic Schwinger effect. Tunneling ionization under deep subgap mid-infrared irradiation leads to intense photoluminescence in the visible range, in full agreement with quasi-adiabatic theory. In addition to revealing a gapped extended system suitable for studying the analogue Schwinger effect, this observation holds great potential for nonperturbative field sensing, i.e., sensing electric fields through nonperturbative light-matter interactions. First, this paper illustrates this by measuring the local deviation from the nominally cubic phase of a perovskite single crystal, which can be interpreted in terms of frozen-in fields. Next, it is shown that analogue dynamic Schwinger effect can be used for nonperturbative amplification of nonparametric upconversion process in perovskites driven simultaneously by multiple optical fields. This discovery demonstrates the potential for material response beyond perturbation theory in the tunneling regime, offering extremely sensitive light detection and amplification across an ultrabroad spectral range not accessible by conventional devices.},
author = {Lorenc, Dusan and Volosniev, Artem and Zhumekenov, Ayan A. and Lee, Seungho and Ibáñez, Maria and Bakr, Osman M. and Lemeshko, Mikhail and Alpichshev, Zhanybek},
issn = {2330-4022},
journal = {ACS Photonics},
number = {9},
pages = {5220--5230},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
title = {{Observation of analogue dynamic Schwinger effect and non-perturbative light sensing in lead halide perovskites}},
doi = {10.1021/acsphotonics.5c01360},
volume = {12},
year = {2025},
}
@article{20496,
abstract = {The practical implementation of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) is limited by uncontrolled zinc (Zn) dendrite growth during anode plating, compromising both safety and cycle life. Typically, Zn plating proceeds via 2D growth along the six equivalent prismatic [1010] directions of the hexagonal close-packed (HCP) Zn lattice, forming hexagonal platelets that promote dendrite formation. Here, an effective electrolyte engineering strategy is presented using rare-earth ions to regulate Zn plating. Combined multiscale experimental analyses and computational modeling reveal that these ions preferentially adsorb onto the prismatic {1010} facets, suppressing lateral epitaxial growth of the basal (0002) planes. This redirects Zn plating toward an apparent screw dislocation-driven growth along the [0001] axis. The resulting growth pathway, together with randomly oriented Zn nucleation, yields dense, uniform, and dendrite-free Zn layers with markedly improved cycling stability and high depth-of-discharge operation, thereby challenging the prevailing assumption that dendrite suppression requires (0002)-oriented growth parallel to the substrate. This work provides new mechanistic insights into Zn plating dynamics and establishes a scalable strategy for stable, dendrite-free Zn anodes in next-generation AZIBs.},
author = {Zeng, Guifang and Horta, Sharona and Sun, Qing and Khan, Malik Dilshad and Ibáñez, Maria and Han, Yuhang and Wang, Shang and Li, Longqiu and Ci, Lijie and Tian, Yanhong and Cabot, Andreu},
issn = {1521-4095},
journal = {Advanced Materials},
publisher = {Wiley},
title = {{Crystal growth engineering for dendrite-free Zinc metal plating}},
doi = {10.1002/adma.202510906},
year = {2025},
}
@article{20851,
abstract = {High-voltage disordered spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 is a promising cathode material for high power density in lithium-ion batteries. However, it suffers from poor cycle life associated with the rock-salt phase transformation. This study presents a straightforward synthesis approach to enhance the electrochemical performance of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 through a synergistic solid-state modification with LiF and AlF3. This dual modification promotes rapid Li⁺ diffusion, enables near-complete delithiation/lithiation, approaching the theoretical capacity of disordered LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4, and, more importantly, effectively mitigates the formation of the rock-salt phase, thereby enhancing structural stability, as confirmed by operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD). As a result, the optimized LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (10 mg AlF3 + 30 mg LiF) delivers high reversible capacities of 142.1, 139.1, 129.2, 121.6, 110.3, 93.5, and 76.1 mAh∙g−1 at 0.2C, 0.5C, 1.0C, 2.0C, 3.0C, 4.0C, and 5.0C, respectively. Full cells using graphite as the anode and a high-loading cathode exhibit excellent cycling performance. They retain 80% of their capacity after 200 cycles at 0.5C within a voltage window of 3.5–4.9 V with cathode loading of 11 mg∙cm−2. The findings of this study will significantly advance high-power LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 materials, offering improved battery life and thereby enhancing their potential for practical applications.},
author = {Chang, Xingqi and Escudero, Carlos and Black, Ashley P. and Horta, Sharona and Martínez, Elías and Lu, Xuan and Llorca, Jordi and Ibáñez, Maria and Biendicho, Jordi Jacas and Cabot, Andreu},
issn = {2198-3844},
journal = {Advanced Science},
publisher = {Wiley},
title = {{Mitigating the rock-salt phase transformation in disordered LNMO through synergetic solid-state AlF3/LiF modifications}},
doi = {10.1002/advs.202515962},
year = {2025},
}
@article{21321,
abstract = {The development of cost-effective and high-performance thermoelectric (TE) materials faces significant challenges, particularly in improving the properties of promising copper-based TE materials such as Cu3SbSe4, which are limited by their poor electrical conductivity. This study presents a detailed comparative analysis of three strategies to promote the electrical transport properties of Cu3SbSe4 through Sn doping: conventional Sn atomic doping, surface treatment with SnSe molecular complexes, and blending with SnSe nanocrystals to form nanocomposites, all followed by annealing and hot pressing under identical conditions. Our results reveal that a surface treatment using SnSe molecular complexes significantly enhances TE performance over atomic doping and nanocomposite formation, achieving a power factor of 1.1 mW·m−1·K−2 and a maximum dimensionless figure of merit zT value of 0.80 at 640 K, representing an excellent performance among Cu3SbSe4-based materials produced via solution-processing methods. This work highlights the effectiveness of surface engineering in optimizing the transport properties of nanostructured materials, demonstrating the versatility and cost-efficiency of solution-based technologies in the development of advanced nanostructured materials for application in the field of TE among others.},
author = {Xiao, Shanshan and Zhao, Mingjun and Li, Mingquan and Wan, Shanhong and Genç, Aziz and Huang, Lulu and Chen, Lei and Zhang, Yu and Ibáñez, Maria and Lim, Khak Ho and Hong, Min and Liu, Yu and Cabot, Andreu},
issn = {1998-0000},
journal = {Nano Research},
number = {1},
publisher = {Tsinghua University Press},
title = {{Band and defect engineering in solution-processed nanocrystal building blocks to promote transport properties in nanomaterials: The case of thermoelectric Cu 3SbSe 4}},
doi = {10.26599/nr.2025.94907072},
volume = {18},
year = {2025},
}
@phdthesis{20415,
author = {Lee, Seungho},
issn = {2663-337X},
pages = {144},
publisher = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria},
title = {{Nanoparticle-based precursors toward advanced crystalline inorganic solids}},
doi = {10.15479/AT-ISTA-20415},
year = {2025},
}
@article{19364,
abstract = {Thermoelectric coolers (TECs) are pivotal in modern heat management but face limitations in efficiency and manufacturing scalability. We address these challenges by using an extrusion-based 3D printing technique to fabricate high-performance thermoelectric materials. Our ink formulations ensure the integrity of the 3D-printed structure and effective particle bonding during sintering, achieving record-high figure of merit (zT) values of 1.42 for p-type bismuth antimony telluride [(Bi,Sb)2Te3] and 1.3 for n-type silver selenide (Ag2Se) materials at room temperature. The resulting TEC demonstrates a cooling temperature gradient of 50°C in air. Moreover, this scalable and cost-effective method circumvents energy-intensive and time-consuming steps, such as ingot preparation and subsequently machining processes, offering a transformative solution for thermoelectric device production and heralding a new era of efficient and sustainable thermoelectric technologies.},
author = {Xu, Shengduo and Horta, Sharona and Lawal, Abayomi Q and Maji, Krishnendu and Lorion, Magali and Ibáñez, Maria},
issn = {1095-9203},
journal = {Science},
number = {6736},
pages = {845--850},
publisher = {AAAS},
title = {{Interfacial bonding enhances thermoelectric cooling in 3D-printed materials}},
doi = {10.1126/science.ads0426},
volume = {387},
year = {2025},
}
@article{20326,
abstract = {Ag2Se is a promising n-type thermoelectric material, but its performance is limited by excessive carrier concentration, compositional inhomogeneity, and phase instability, challenges rooted in a narrow homogeneity range and uncontrolled Ag+ diffusion in the superionic phase. Here, we address these issues by exploiting liquid–solid interface reactions using CdSe complexes that remove surface excess Ag to yield stoichiometric Ag2Se and generate CdSe nanodomains that inhibit Ag+ diffusion and constrain grain growth. The resulting Ag2Se-CdSe nanocomposites exhibit a reproducible, stable figure of merit (zT) of 1.04 between 300 and 390 K. Beyond demonstrating high performance, we elucidate the interfacial chemical reactions that give rise to the observed microstructure and transport properties, providing a foundation for rationally engineering interfacial chemistry to tailor transport properties across diverse thermoelectric material systems.},
author = {Liu, Yu and Kleinhanns, Tobias and Horta, Sharona and Dutkiewicz, Ewelina and Lu, Shaoqing and Spadaro, Maria Chiara and Genç, Aziz and Chen, Lei and Lim, Khak Ho and Hong, Min and Arbiol, Jordi and Ibáñez, Maria},
issn = {1520-5126},
journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society},
number = {35},
pages = {32199--32208},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
title = {{Liquid-solid interface reactions drive enhanced thermoelectric performance in Ag2Se}},
doi = {10.1021/jacs.5c11435},
volume = {147},
year = {2025},
}
@article{14435,
abstract = {Low‐cost, safe, and environmental‐friendly rechargeable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) are promising as next‐generation energy storage devices for wearable electronics among other applications. However, sluggish ionic transport kinetics and the unstable electrode structure during ionic insertion/extraction hampers their deployment. Herein, we propose a new cathode material based on a layered metal chalcogenide (LMC), bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3), coated with polypyrrole (PPy). Taking advantage of the PPy coating, the Bi2Te3@PPy composite presents strong ionic absorption affinity, high oxidation resistance, and high structural stability. The ZIBs based on Bi2Te3@PPy cathodes exhibit high capacities and ultra‐long lifespans of over 5000 cycles. They also present outstanding stability even under bending. In addition, we analyze here the reaction mechanism using in situ X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and computational tools and demonstrate that, in the aqueous system, Zn2+ is not inserted into the cathode as previously assumed. In contrast, proton charge storage dominates the process. Overall, this work not only shows the great potential of LMCs as ZIBs cathode materials and the advantages of PPy coating, but also clarifies the charge/discharge mechanism in rechargeable ZIBs based on LMCs.},
author = {Zeng, Guifang and Sun, Qing and Horta, Sharona and Wang, Shang and Lu, Xuan and Zhang, Chaoyue and Li, Jing and Li, Junshan and Ci, Lijie and Tian, Yanhong and Ibáñez, Maria and Cabot, Andreu},
issn = {1521-4095},
journal = {Advanced Materials},
keywords = {Mechanical Engineering, Mechanics of Materials, General Materials Science},
number = {1},
publisher = {Wiley},
title = {{A layered Bi2Te3@PPy cathode for aqueous zinc ion batteries: Mechanism and application in printed flexible batteries}},
doi = {10.1002/adma.202305128},
volume = {36},
year = {2024},
}
@article{14734,
abstract = {Developing cost-effective and high-performance thermoelectric (TE) materials to assemble efficient TE devices presents a multitude of challenges and opportunities. Cu3SbSe4 is a promising p-type TE material based on relatively earth abundant elements. However, the challenge lies in its poor electrical conductivity. Herein, an efficient and scalable solution-based approach is developed to synthesize high-quality Cu3SbSe4 nanocrystals doped with Pb at the Sb site. After ligand displacement and annealing treatments, the dried powders are consolidated into dense pellets, and their TE properties are investigated. Pb doping effectively increases the charge carrier concentration, resulting in a significant increase in electrical conductivity, while the Seebeck coefficients remain consistently high. The calculated band structure shows that Pb doping induces band convergence, thereby increasing the effective mass. Furthermore, the large ionic radius of Pb2+ results in the generation of additional point and plane defects and interphases, dramatically enhancing phonon scattering, which significantly decreases the lattice thermal conductivity at high temperatures. Overall, a maximum figure of merit (zTmax) ≈ 0.85 at 653 K is obtained in Cu3Sb0.97Pb0.03Se4. This represents a 1.6-fold increase compared to the undoped sample and exceeds most doped Cu3SbSe4-based materials produced by solid-state, demonstrating advantages of versatility and cost-effectiveness using a solution-based technology.},
author = {Wan, Shanhong and Xiao, Shanshan and Li, Mingquan and Wang, Xin and Lim, Khak Ho and Hong, Min and Ibáñez, Maria and Cabot, Andreu and Liu, Yu},
issn = {2366-9608},
journal = {Small Methods},
number = {8},
publisher = {Wiley},
title = {{Band engineering through Pb-doping of nanocrystal building blocks to enhance thermoelectric performance in Cu3SbSe4}},
doi = {10.1002/smtd.202301377},
volume = {8},
year = {2024},
}
@article{13093,
abstract = {The direct, solid state, and reversible conversion between heat and electricity using thermoelectric devices finds numerous potential uses, especially around room temperature. However, the relatively high material processing cost limits their real applications. Silver selenide (Ag2Se) is one of the very few n-type thermoelectric (TE) materials for room-temperature applications. Herein, we report a room temperature, fast, and aqueous-phase synthesis approach to produce Ag2Se, which can be extended to other metal chalcogenides. These materials reach TE figures of merit (zT) of up to 0.76 at 380 K. To improve these values, bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) particles also prepared in an aqueous solution are incorporated into the Ag2Se matrix. In this way, a series of Ag2Se/Bi2S3 composites with Bi2S3 wt % of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 are prepared by solution blending and hot-press sintering. The presence of Bi2S3 significantly improves the Seebeck coefficient and power factor while at the same time decreasing the thermal conductivity with no apparent drop in electrical conductivity. Thus, a maximum zT value of 0.96 is achieved in the composites with 1.0 wt % Bi2S3 at 370 K. Furthermore, a high average zT value (zTave) of 0.93 in the 300–390 K range is demonstrated.},
author = {Nan, Bingfei and Li, Mengyao and Zhang, Yu and Xiao, Ke and Lim, Khak Ho and Chang, Cheng and Han, Xu and Zuo, Yong and Li, Junshan and Arbiol, Jordi and Llorca, Jordi and Ibáñez, Maria and Cabot, Andreu},
issn = {2637-6113},
journal = {ACS Applied Electronic Materials},
number = {5},
pages = {2807--215},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
title = {{Engineering of thermoelectric composites based on silver selenide in aqueous solution and ambient temperature}},
doi = {10.1021/acsaelm.3c00055},
volume = {6},
year = {2024},
}
@article{15166,
abstract = {Reducing defects boosts room-temperature performance of a thermoelectric device},
author = {Navita, Navita and Ibáñez, Maria},
issn = {1095-9203},
journal = {Science},
number = {6688},
pages = {1184},
publisher = {American Association for the Advancement of Science},
title = {{Electron highways are cooler}},
doi = {10.1126/science.ado4077},
volume = {383},
year = {2024},
}