Phase-controlled molecular beam deposition unlocks flexible MgAgSb thermoelectrics with exceptional performance.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41680161.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-69451-8 and PMC identifier 13009189.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
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Abstract
Flexible thermoelectric materials hold great promise for sustainable energy supply in flexible electronics. However, beyond the long-standing champion Bi<sub>2</sub>Te<sub>3</sub>-based flexible films, high-performance alternatives remain scarce. Here, we report a promising flexible thermoelectric material based on eco-friendly MgAgSb, a bulk-proven high-performance system whose development in flexible form has long been hindered by its intrinsic brittleness and phase complexity. Using molecular beam deposition, we manage to precisely stabilize MgAgSb within its α-phase range and finely control its stoichiometry. As a result, we successfully fabricate the α-MgAgSb film with exceptional performance, achieving a room temperature zT of 0.8 and a peak power factor of 19.3 μW cm<sup>-1</sup> K<sup>-2</sup>, ranking among the promising flexible thermoelectric materials developed. Moreover, the α-MgAgSb film is revealed to exhibit notable flexibility and stability under repeated bending and heating. Leveraging this high-performance stable α-MgAgSb film, the flexible thermoelectric device delivers a maximum normalized power density of 4.9 μW cm<sup>-2</sup> K<sup>-2</sup>. This work opens a pathway for flexible MgAgSb applications and offers strong potential for realizing self-powered flexible technologies.