Context:

Researchers at the JNCASR Bengaluru have developed a new material with the potential for highly efficient conversion of waste heat to energy.

More on the News

• The researchers developed the material by introducing twisted layers in ferecrystals. 
• This material has an exceptionally high thermoelectric figure of merit (a measure of the thermoelectric performance of a material), exceeding the value two.
• As a result, it can act as a tremendous heat blocker.
• This material has applicability for thermoelectric energy conversion.

What are Ferecrystals?

An example of 2D natural superlattice structured materials.

• 2D superlattice materials comprise alternating layers of two or more different structures which are typically a few atoms thick. This stacking creates a new material with unique electronic properties absent in individual layers.

These are a distinctive class of misfit layered compounds (MLCs).

In MLCs, the difference in the repeating patterns of the layers causes a misalignment along one direction known as a ‘misfit’ between the layers. 

This twisting between layers in ferecrystals can hamper heat transport and block heat waves in any materials.  This makes it significant for thermoelectric energy conversion. 

Significance 

• The ability to imbibe these ferecrystals as nanostructures in a solid-state matrix will be a grand accomplishment in synthetic chemistry and materials science.
• It Promises to be a significant advancement in thermoelectric technology, which involves the capture and conversion of waste heat from sources like industrial processes in chemical, thermal, steel plants, petroleum refineries and vehicle exhaust into electricity.