Extremely low lattice thermal conductivity in light-element solid materials
2024
Extremely Low Thermal Conductivity in Light-Element Materials
publication
Evidence: high
Author Information
Author(s): Ma Ni, Liu Lu, Wu Runhua, Xu Juping, Yin Wen, Li Kai, Bai Wei, Yang Jiong, Xiao Chong, Xie Yi
Primary Institution: University of Science and Technology of China
Hypothesis
Can light-element materials achieve extremely low lattice thermal conductivity?
Conclusion
The study found that light-element solids KCu4S3 and KCu4Se3 exhibit extremely low lattice thermal conductivity, lower than that of most heavy-element materials.
Supporting Evidence
- KCu4S3 and KCu4Se3 show low lattice thermal conductivity of 0.15 and 0.12 W/(m·K) at 573 K, respectively.
- The hierarchical structure of these materials contributes to their low thermal conductivity.
- Flat phonon branches and strong phonon-phonon interactions were observed in the studied materials.
- The findings challenge the conventional belief that only heavy-element materials can achieve low thermal conductivity.
Takeaway
This study shows that some materials made from light elements can conduct heat very poorly, which is usually only seen in heavier materials.
Methodology
The study synthesized KCu4S3 and KCu4Se3 and measured their thermal conductivity using various techniques.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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