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
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 leads to strong phonon interactions and large phonon anharmonicity.
- These findings challenge the conventional belief that only heavy-element materials can achieve low thermal conductivity.
Takeaway
This study shows that materials made from light elements can have very low heat conductivity, which is usually only seen in heavier materials.
Methodology
The study involved synthesizing KCu4S3 and KCu4Se3 and measuring their thermal conductivity using various techniques.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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