Research Status of Preparation and Optimization Methods of Cu₂Te-based Thermoelectric Materials

As a thermoelectric material, Cu₂ Te has the advantages of adjustable transport performance, abundant elements, low toxicity and high temperature stability. However, due to the low electronegativity of Te, weak electronegativity leads to weaker and fewer ionic Cu-X bonds, resulting in a high hole concentration of Cu₂ Te and a low ZT value, thus the thermoelectric conversion efficiency is low. The researchers used different preparation processes combined with elements doping, compounding and controlling element content to optimize the electrical transport performance. The crystal structure,complex phase transformation and metal conductivity of Cu₂ Te were summarized, and some preparation processes and methods for optimizing thermoelectric properties were introduced. Finally, the existing problems and future directions of Cu₂ Te-based thermoelectric materials were summarized, which can provide some reference values for the research of Cu₂ Te-based thermoelectric materials.