Critical role of nanoinclusions in silver selenide nanocomposites as a promising room temperature thermoelectric material

The introduction of nonmetal nanoinclusions within Ag₂Se results in an interphase band bending that promotes electron filtering and increase Seebeck coefficient. Similar loading of metal nanoinclusions provided an opposite effect-modulating free carrier concentration, as characterized by superior electrical conductivities and lower Seebeck coefficients.