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Pb-based thermoelectric materials and devices such as PbTe-based devices are the most employed nowadays exhibiting a ZT factor of about 1.3. However, Pb is toxic. Designing Pb-free thermoelectrics becomed only nowadays crucial although its harmful effects has been documented for centuries (as far back as ancient Greeks and Romans). Hence, CMC group collaborates intensively with various renowened scientist worldwide in Re-Designing sustainable thermoelectric materials.

An example is the SnSe thermoelectric material for which a record ZT value of roughly 3.1 was achieved by removing the SnO_x at the surface of the grains (from the grain boundaries). Our APT analysis published recently in the Nature Mateials Journal and shown below proves indeed that by purifying the SnSe polycrystalline material the formation of SnOx residues are suppressed (APT 3D map on the left is for the non-purified SnSe, although the 3D APT map on the right which is for the purified SnSe proves the absence of the SnOx residues).