Three-Fold Coordination of Copper in Sulfides: A Blockade for Hole Carrier Delocalization but a Driving Force for Ultralow Thermal Conductivity

Copper-rich sulfides are very promising for energy conversion applications due to their environmental compatibility, cost effectiveness, and earth abundance. Based on a comparative analysis of the structural and transport properties of Cu3BiS3 with those of tetrahedrite (Cu12Sb4S13) and other Cu-rich sulfides, we highlight the role of the cationic coordination types and networks on the electrical and thermal properties. By precession-assisted 3D electron diffraction analysis, we find very high anisotropic thermal vibration of copper attributed to its 3-fold coordination, with an anisotropic atomic displacement parameter up to 0.09 Å2. Density functional theory calculations reveal that these Cu atoms are weakly bonded and give rise to low-energy Einstein-like vibrational modes that strongly scatter heat-carrying acoustic phonons, leading to ultralow thermal conductivity. Importantly, we demonstrate that the 3-fold coordination of copper in Cu3BiS3 and in other copper-rich sulfides constituted of interconnected CuS3 networks causes a hole blockade. This phenomenon hinders the possibility of optimizing the carrier concentration and electronic properties through mixed valency Cu+/Cu2+, differently from tetrahedrite and most other copper-rich chalcogenides, where the main interconnected Cu-S network is built of CuS4 tetrahedra. The comparison with various copper-rich sulfides demonstrates that seeking for frameworks characterized by the coexistence of tetrahedral and 3-fold coordinated copper is very attractive for the discovery of efficient thermoelectric copper-rich sulfides. Considering that lattice vibrations and carrier concentration are key factors for engineering transport phenomena (electronic, phonon, ionic, etc.) in copper-rich chalcogenides for various types of applications, our findings improve the guidelines for the design of materials enabling sustainable energy solutions with wide-ranging applications.

Large-Scale Colloidal Synthesis of Chalcogenides for Thermoelectric Applications

A simple and effective preparation of solution-processed chalcogenide thermoelectric materials is described. First, PbTe, PbSe, and SnSe were prepared by gram-scale colloidal synthesis relying on the reaction between metal acetates and diphenyl dichalcogenides in hexadecylamine solvent. The resultant phase-pure chalcogenides consist of highly crystalline and defect-free particles with distinct cubic-, tetrapod-, and rod-like morphologies. The powdered PbTe, PbSe, and SnSe products were subjected to densification by spark plasma sintering (SPS), affording dense pellets of the respective chalcogenides. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the SPS-derived pellets exhibit fine nano-/micro-structures dictated by the original morphology of the key constituting particles, while the powder X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy analyses confirm that the SPS-derived pellets are phase-pure materials, preserving the structure of the colloidal synthesis products. The resultant solution-processed PbTe, PbSe, and SnSe exhibit low thermal conductivity, which might be due to the enhanced phonon scattering developed over fine microstructures. For undoped n-type PbTe and p-type SnSe samples, an expected moderate thermoelectric performance is achieved. In contrast, an outstanding figure-of-merit of 0.73 at 673 K was achieved for undoped n-type PbSe outperforming, the majority of the optimized PbSe-based thermoelectric materials. Overall, our findings facilitate the design of efficient solution-processed chalcogenide thermoelectrics.

Realization of Band Convergence in p-Type TiCoSb Half-Heusler Alloys Significantly Enhances the Thermoelectric Performance

Band engineering is a promising approach that proved successful in enhancing the thermoelectric performance of several families of thermoelectric materials. Here, we show how this mechanism can be induced in the p-type TiCoSbhalf-Heusler (HH) compound to effectively improve the Seebeck coefficient. Both the Pisarenko plot and electronic band structure calculations demonstrate that this enhancement is due to increased density-of-states effective mass resulting from the convergence of two valence band maxima. Our calculations evidence that the valence band maximum of TiCoSb lying at the Γ point exhibits a small energy difference of 51 meV with respect to the valence band edge at the L point. Experimentally, this energy offset can be tuned by both Fe and Sn substitutions on the Co and Sb site, respectively. A Sn doping level as low as x = 0.03 is sufficient to drive more than ∼100% increase in the power factor at room temperature. Further, defects at various length scales, that include point defects, edge dislocations, and nanosized grains evidenced by electron microscopy (field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM)), result in enhanced phonon scattering which substantially reduces the lattice thermal conductivity to ∼4.2 W m^-1 K^-1 at 873 K. Combined with enhanced power factor, a peak ZT value of ∼0.4 was achieved at 873 K in TiCo_0.85Fe_0.15Sb_0.97Sn_0.03. In addition, the microhardness and fracture toughness were found to be enhanced for all of the synthesized samples, falling in the range of 8.3-8.6 GPa and 1.8-2 MPa·m^-1/2, respectively. Our results highlight how the combination of band convergence and microstructure engineering in the HH alloy TiCoSb is effective for tuning its thermoelectric performance.

Composites to Produce a Material with Zero Absolute Thermopower S = 0 or a Thermopower Switch between S = 0 and S ≠ 0

From the theory of two-phase composites it is concluded that in the concentration dependence of the Seebeck coefficient S a kink can occur precisely at S=0 absolute if the two phases have different kinds of carriers, electrons and holes, and if the phase grains are spherical without preferred orientations and arranged in a symmetrical fashion. This feature, indeed found to be realized in amorphous Cr1-xSix thin films deposited by ion beam sputtering from Cr-Si alloy targets, can be applied to make reference standards for S=0 at room temperature and even at higher temperatures. Additionally, it may be used to design a thermopower switch between S=0 and S≠0. It is also concluded that the structure realized in any alloy during solidification does not only depend on the diffusion mobility of the atoms and on the existence of a (relative) minimum in the Gibbs' free energy. It depends also on the fact whether this structure is compatible with the demand that (spatial) continuity of the entropy and energy flux densities and their gradients is saved during the solidification process.

Residual resistivity as an independent indicator of resonant levels in semiconductors

Distortion of the density of states induced by specific impurities, a mechanism known as resonant level (RL), is an efficient strategy to enhance the thermoelectric performances of metals and semiconductors. So far, experimental signatures identifying the resonant nature of an impurity have relied on the so-called Ioffe-Pisarenko plot that enables visualizing the induced thermopower enhancement at specific carrier concentrations. However, this method cannot solely discern RL from other possible band-structure-related sources of thermopower enhancement such as band-shape modifications or band convergence. An independent method of resolving this problem is proposed here. A detailed theoretical and experimental analysis of the low-temperature electrical resistivity ρ₀ and carrier mobility μ₀ of the resonant-level system SnTe doped with In is presented as a function of the impurity concentration x. By comparing to non-resonant cases of SnTe doped with I, Mn, and Ga, we demonstrate that the construction of residual resistivity ρ₀(x) and residual mobility μ₀(x) plots allows to distinguish between resonant and non-resonant impurities, even when some of them induce similar thermopower enhancements. This methodology is further confirmed by analyses performed for Na- and Tl-doped PbTe, illustrating how the combination of transport measurements at low temperatures can be used to determine the resonant nature of an impurity.

Optimum in the thermoelectric efficiency of nanostructured Nb-doped TiO2 ceramics: from polarons to Nb-Nb dimers

Rutile is the most common and stable polymorph form of titanium oxide TiO2 at all temperatures. The doping of rutile TiO2 with a small amount of niobium is reknown for being responsible for a large increase of the electrical conductivity by several orders of magnitude, broadening its technological interest towards new emerging fields such as the thermoelectric conversion of waste heat. The electronic conduction has been found to be of a polaronic nature with strongly localized charges around the Ti3+ centers while, on the other side, the relatively high value of the thermal conductivity implies the existence of lattice heat carriers, i.e. phonons, with large mean free paths which makes the nanostructuration relevant for optimizing the thermoelectric efficiency. Here, the use of a high-pressure and high-temperature sintering technique has allowed to vary the grain size in rutile TiO2 pellets from 300 to 170 nm, leading to a significant reduction of the lattice thermal conductivity. The thermoelectric properties (electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity) of Nb-doped rutile nanostructured ceramics, namely NbxTi1-xO2 with x varying from 1 to 5%, are reported from room temperature to ∼900 K. With the incorporation of Nb, an optimum in the thermoelectric properties together with an anomaly on the tetragonal lattice constant c are observed for a concentration of ∼2.85%, which might be the fingerprint of the formation of short Nb dimers.

Transport properties of polycrystalline SnTe prepared by saturation annealing

Because the binary chalcogenide SnTe is an interesting Pb-free alternative to the state-of-the-art thermoelectric material PbTe, significant efforts were devoted to the optimization of its thermoelectric properties over the last few years. Here, we show that saturation-annealing treatments performed at 823, 873 or 973 K under Sn-rich conditions provide a successful strategy to prepare polycrystalline samples with a controlled concentration of Sn vacancies. Both scanning transmission electron microscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy demonstrate the absence of Sn-rich areas at the grain boundaries in the saturation-annealed samples. Transport property measurements, performed over a wide range of temperatures (5–800 K), show that this technique enables achieving thermoelectric performances at 800 K similar to those obtained using Sn self-compensation. The three saturation annealing temperatures result in comparable transport properties across the entire temperature range due to similar hole concentrations ranging between 1.0 and 1.5 × 10²⁰ cm⁻³ at 300 K. As equally observed in samples prepared by other synthetic routes, the temperature dependence of the Hall mobility evidences that charge transport is strongly affected by point-defect scattering caused by the random distribution of Sn vacancies.

Saturation annealing enables controlling the inherent Sn vacancy concentration in polycrystalline SnTe, without the presence of elemental Sn at the grain boundaries.

Electronic Band Structure and Transport Properties of the Cluster Compound Ag3Tl2Mo15Se19

Mo-based cluster compounds are a large class of materials with complex crystal structures that give rise to very low lattice thermal conductivity. Here, we report on the crystal structure and transport property measurements (5-800 K) of the novel Tl-filled compound Ag₃Tl₂Mo₁₅Se₁₉. This compound adopts a crystal structure described in the rhombohedral R3 c space group [ a = 9.9601(1) Å, c = 57.3025(8) Å, and Z = 6] built by the covalent arrangement of octahedral Mo₆ and bioctahedral Mo₉ clusters in a 1:1 ratio, with the Ag and Tl atoms filling the large cavities between them. Transport property measurements performed on polycrystalline samples indicate that this compound behaves as a heavily doped semiconductor with mixed electrical conduction. Electronic band structure calculations combined with a semiclassical approach using the Boltzmann transport equation are in good agreement with these measurements. This compound exhibits a lattice thermal conductivity as low as 0.4 W m^-1 K^-1 because of highly disordered Ag and Tl atoms. Because of the low thermopower values induced by the mixed electrical conduction, the dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit ZT remains moderate with a peak value of 0.18 at 750 K.

Thermoelectric properties of the tetrahedrite-tennantite solid solutions Cu12Sb4-xAsxS13 and Cu10Co2Sb4-yAsyS13 (0 ≤ x, y ≤ 4)

Tetrahedrites, a class of copper- and sulfur-rich minerals, exhibit inherently very low lattice thermal conductivity and adjustable electronic properties that make them interesting candidates for thermoelectric applications. Here, we investigate the influence of isovalent As substitution on the Sb site on the structural and transport properties (5-700 K) of the two solid solutions Cu12Sb4-xAsxS13 and Cu10Co2Sb4-yAsyS13 (0 ≤ x, y ≤ 4). Electronic band structure calculations predict that As has only a weak influence on the valence bands and hence, on the p-type metallic character of Cu12Sb4S13. In agreement with these predictions, all the samples of the series Cu12Sb4-xAsxS13 exhibit p-type metallic behavior with relatively low electrical resistivity and moderate thermopower values that only slightly evolve with the As content. In contrast, the substitution of Co for Cu in As-rich samples seems less favorable as suggested by a decrease in the Co concentration with increasing the As content. This trend leads to a concomitant increase in the electrical resistivity and thermopower leaving the ZT values practically unchanged with respect to purely Cu-based samples. As a result, peak ZT values ranging between 0.60 and 0.75 are achieved at 700 K for both series. The lack of significant variations in the ZT values confirms the robustness of the thermoelectric performances of tetrahedrites with respect to variations in the Sb-to-As ratio.

Inelastic neutron scattering study of the lattice dynamics of the homologous compounds (PbSe)5(Bi2Se3)3m (m = 1, 2 and 3)

We report on the inelastic response of the homologous compounds (PbSe)5(Bi2Se3)3m for m = 1, 2 and 3 followed in a broad temperature range (50-500 K) using high-resolution powder inelastic neutron scattering experiments. These results are complemented by low-temperature measurements of the specific heat (2-300 K). The evolution of the anisotropic crystal structure of these compounds with varying m, built from alternate Pb-Se and mBi-Se layers, only weakly influences the generalized phonon density of states. In all the three compounds, intense inelastic signals, likely mainly associated with the dynamics of the Pb atoms, are observed in the 4.5-6 meV low-energy range. The response of these low-energy modes to temperature variations indicates a conventional quasi-harmonic behavior over the whole temperature range investigated. The modes located above 8 meV show a minor temperature effect regardless of the value of m. The low-energy excess of vibrational modes manifests itself in the low-temperature specific heat as a pronounced peak in the Cp(T)/T3 data near 10 K. The lack of significant anharmonicity beyond that associated with the thermal expansion of the lattice suggests that the inherent disorder in the monoclinic unit cell and scattering at interlayer interfaces are the most important ingredients that limit the heat transport in this series of compounds.

An Sn-induced resonant level in β-As2Te3

Distortion of the density of states by an impurity-induced resonant level has been shown to provide an effective strategy to improve the thermoelectric performance of semiconductors such as Bi2Te3, PbTe or SnTe. Here, combining first-principles calculations and transport property measurements, we demonstrate that Sn is a resonant impurity that distorts the valence band edge in p-type β-As2Te3. This remarkable effect is characterized as a prominent, sharp peak in the electronic density of states near the Fermi level. To illustrate the particular influence of Sn on the thermopower of β-As2Te3, the theoretical Ioffe-Pisarenko curve, computed within the Boltzmann transport theory, is compared with the experimental results obtained on three series of polycrystalline samples with substitution of Ga and Bi for As and I for Te. While Ga and I behave as conventional, rigid-band-like dopants and follow theoretical predictions, Sn results in significant deviations from the theoretical curve with a clear enhancement of the thermopower. Both electronic band structure calculations and transport property measurements provide conclusive evidence that this enhancement and hence, the good thermoelectric performances achieved at mid temperatures in β-As2-xSnxTe3 can be attributed to a resonant level induced by Sn atoms. The possibility to induce resonant states in the electronic band structure of β-As2Te3 opens new avenues to further optimize its thermoelectric performance.

Synthesis and transport properties of the Te-substituted homologous compounds Pb5Bi6Se14-xTex (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0)

The crystal structure and transport properties (2-723 K) of the homologous compound Pb5Bi6Se14 with partial substitution of Te for Se are studied by means of powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electrical resistivity, thermopower, thermal conductivity and Hall effect measurements. Polycrystalline samples of Pb5Bi6Se14-xTex (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) were prepared by a two-step synthesis method based on the pseudo-binary PbSe-Bi2Se3 phase diagram combined with Te substitution in the PbSe precursor. The successful insertion of Te into the crystal structure of Pb5Bi6Se14 was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Transport property measurements indicate an increase in the heavily doped character of the transport with increasing the Te concentration. The extremely low lattice thermal conductivity values (0.3-0.4 W m-1 K-1 at 723 K) that approach the glassy limit at high temperatures are nearly independent of the chemical composition suggesting no influence on point-defect scattering mechanisms in the substituted compounds. Despite the inherent complexity of this system, the evolution of the electronic properties with x is well described by a simple single-parabolic band model. Because the increase in the power factor with increasing x is compensated by the concomitant increase in the electronic thermal conductivity, this substitution does not yield enhanced ZT values with respect to the pristine compound with a similar peak ZT value of 0.5 achieved at 723 K. Nevertheless, the simple synthetic method used in this study to insert a doping element opens new avenues for controlling the transport properties of the homologous series (PbSe)5(Bi2Se3)3m (m = 1, 2 and 3).

Stabilization of Metastable Thermoelectric Crystalline Phases by Tuning the Glass Composition in the Cu-As-Te System

Recrystallization of amorphous compounds can lead to the stabilization of metastable crystalline phases, which offers an interesting way to unveil novel binary or ternary compounds and control the transport properties of the obtained glass ceramics. Here, we report on a systematic study of the Cu-As-Te glassy system and show that under specific synthesis conditions using the spark-plasma-sintering technique, the α-As₂Te₃ and β-As₂Te₃ binary phases and the previously unreported AsTe₃ phase can be selectively crystallized within an amorphous matrix. The microstructures and transport properties of three different glass ceramics, each of them containing one of these phases with roughly the same crystalline fraction (∼30% in volume), were investigated in detail by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, neutron thermodiffraction, Raman scattering (experimental and lattice-dynamics calculations), and transport-property measurements. The physical properties of the glass ceramics are compared with those of both the parent glasses and the pure crystalline phases that could be successfully synthesized. SEM images coupled with Raman spectroscopy evidence a "coast-to-island" or dendriticlike microstructure with microsized crystallites. The presence of the crystallized phase results in a significant decrease in the electrical resistivity while maintaining the thermal conductivity to low values. This study demonstrates that new compounds with interesting transport properties can be obtained by recrystallization, which in turn provides a tuning parameter for the transport properties of the parent glasses.

Crystal Structure and Transport Properties of the Homologous Compounds (PbSe)5(Bi2Se3)3m (m = 2, 3)

We report on a detailed investigation of the crystal structure and transport properties in a broad temperature range (2-723 K) of the homologous compounds (PbSe)₅(Bi₂Se₃)_3m for m = 2, 3. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data indicate that the m = 2, 3 compounds crystallize in the monoclinic space groups C2/m (No. 12) and P2₁/m (No. 11), respectively. In agreement with diffraction data, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analyses carried out on single crystals show that the three-dimensional crystal structures are built from alternating Pb-Se and m Bi-Se layers stacked along the a axis in both compounds. Scanning electron microcopy and electron-probe microanalyses reveal deviations from the nominal stoichiometry, suggesting a domain of existence in the pseudo binary phase diagram at 873 K. The complex atomic-scale structures of these compounds lead to very low lattice thermal conductivities κ_L that approach the glassy limit at high temperatures. A comparison of the κ_L values across this series unveiled an unexpected increase with increasing m from m = 1 to m = 3, in contrast to the expectation that increasing the structural complexity should tend to lower the thermal transport. This result points to a decisive role played by the Pb-Se/Bi-Se interfaces in limiting κ_L in this series. Both compounds behave as heavily doped n-type semiconductors with relatively low electrical resistivity and thermopower values. As a result, moderate peak ZT values of 0.25 and 0.20 at 700 K were achieved in the m = 2, 3 compounds, respectively. The inherent poor ability of these structures to conduct heat suggests that these homologous compounds may show interesting thermoelectric properties when properly optimized by extrinsic dopants.

Improved Thermoelectric Properties in Melt-Spun SnTe

SnTe has been the focus of numerous experimental and theoretical studies over the last years owing to its high thermoelectric performances near 800 K when appropriately doped. Here, we demonstrate that melt-spinning, an ultrafast-quenching synthesis technique, followed by spark plasma sintering results in enhanced ZT values in polycrystalline SnTe. To illustrate the impact of this technique, the results are contrasted with those obtained on two polycrystalline samples prepared by direct quenching of molten SnTe and without quenching. SnTe melt-spun ribbons are characterized by a peculiar columnar microstructure that contributes to lower the lattice thermal conductivity below 700 K in pressed samples. More importantly, this technique results in a significant decrease in the hole concentration, giving rise to enhanced thermopower values above 500 K. The variation in the hole concentration is likely due to a slight loss of elemental Te during the melt-spinning process. Thanks to the decreased hole concentration, the thermoelectric performances are significantly enhanced with a peak ZT value of 0.6 at 800 K, which represents a 40% increase over the values measured for samples prepared with and without quenching. These findings indicate that melt-spinning provides a novel strategy to improve the thermoelectric properties of SnTe that could be worthwhile extending to substituted compounds.

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Transport Properties of the Hexagonal Mo9 Cluster Compound Ag3RbMo9Se11

Mo-based cluster compounds are promising candidates for thermoelectric applications at high temperatures due to their very low lattice thermal conductivity values. Here, we report on a detailed investigation of the crystal structure and transport properties measured in a wide range of temperatures (2-800 K) of polycrystalline Ag₃RbMo₉Se₁₁. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that this compound crystallizes in the hexagonal space group P6₃/m. The crystal structure is formed by stacked Mo₉Se₁₁ units leaving channels that are randomly filled by Rb⁺ cations, while Ag⁺ cations are located between the Mo₉Se₁₁ units. The high disorder in the unit cell induced by these atoms and their large anisotropic thermal displacement parameters are two key characteristics that lead to very low lattice thermal conductivity as low as 0.6 W m^-1 K^-1 at 800 K. The combination of semiconducting-like electrical properties and low ability to transport heat leads to a maximum dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit ZT of 0.4 at 800 K.

Cu Insertion Into the Mo12 Cluster Compound Cs2Mo12Se14: Synthesis, Crystal and Electronic Structures, and Physical Properties

Mo-based cluster compounds are promising materials for high-temperature thermoelectric applications due to their intrinsic, extremely low thermal conductivity values. In this study, polycrystalline cluster compounds Cs2CuxMo12Se14 were prepared for a wide range of Cu contents (0 ≤ x ≤ 2). All samples crystallize isostructurally in the trigonal space group R3̅. The position of the Cu atoms in the unit cell was determined by X-ray diffraction on a single-crystalline specimen indicating that these atoms fill the empty space between the Mo-Se clusters. Density functional theory calculations predict a metallic ground state for all compositions, in good agreement with the experimental findings. Magnetization measurements indicate a rapid suppression of the superconducting state that develops in the x = 0.0 sample upon Cu insertion. Transport properties measurements, performed in a wide temperature range (2-630 K) on the two end-member compounds x = 0 and x = 2, revealed a multiband electrical conduction as shown by sign reversal of the thermopower as a function of temperature.

Effect of Ni, Bi and Se on the tetrahedrite formation

Tetrahedrite formation is influenced positively by selenium and negatively by bismuth and nickel. However, selenium decreases the skinnerite formation temperature.

Thermoelectric properties of double-substituted tetrahedrites Cu12−xCoxSb4−yTeyS13

This work reports on a detailed study of the thermoelectric properties of the double-substituted tetrahedrites Cu_12−xCo_xSb_4−yTe_yS₁₃ in a wide range of temperatures (5–700 K) with a peak ZT of 0.8 at 700 K.

Electronic structure, low-temperature transport and thermodynamic properties of polymorphic β-As2Te3

The first-order lattice distortion undergone by β-As₂Te₃ around 200 K results in a cycling effect on its transport properties.

Origin of the Large Anisotropic g Factor of Holes in Bismuth

The ratio of the Zeeman splitting to the cyclotron energy (M=ΔE_{Z}/ℏω_{c}) for holelike carriers in bismuth has been quantified with great precision by many experiments performed during the past five decades. It exceeds 2 when the magnetic field is along the trigonal axis and vanishes in the perpendicular configuration. Theoretically, however, M is expected to be isotropic and equal to unity in a two-band Dirac model. We argue that a solution to this half-a-century-old puzzle can be found by extending the k·p theory to multiple bands. Our model not only gives a quantitative account of the magnitude and anisotropy of M for holelike carriers in bismuth, but also explains its contrasting evolution with antimony doping and pressure, both probed by new experiments reported here. The present results have important implications for the magnitude and anisotropy of M in other systems with strong spin-orbit coupling.

From crystal to glass-like thermal conductivity in crystalline minerals

The ability of some materials with a perfectly ordered crystal structure to mimic the heat conduction of amorphous solids is a remarkable physical property that finds applications in numerous areas of materials science, for example, in the search for more efficient thermoelectric materials that enable to directly convert heat into electricity. Here, we unveil the mechanism in which glass-like thermal conductivity emerges in tetrahedrites, a family of natural minerals extensively studied in geology and, more recently, in thermoelectricity. By investigating the lattice dynamics of two tetrahedrites of very close compositions (Cu12Sb2Te2S13 and Cu10Te4S13) but with opposite glasslike and crystal thermal transport by means of powder and single-crystal inelastic neutron scattering, we demonstrate that the former originates from the peculiar chemical environment of the copper atoms giving rise to a strongly anharmonic excess of vibrational states.

Invited article: A round robin test of the uncertainty on the measurement of the thermoelectric dimensionless figure of merit of Co0.97Ni0.03Sb3

A round robin test aiming at measuring the high-temperature thermoelectric properties was carried out by a group of European (mainly French) laboratories (labs). Polycrystalline skutterudite Co0.97Ni0.03Sb3 was characterized by Seebeck coefficient (8 labs), electrical resistivity (9 labs), thermal diffusivity (6 labs), mass volume density (6 labs), and specific heat (6 labs) measurements. These data were statistically processed to determine the uncertainty on all these measured quantities as a function of temperature and combined to obtain an overall uncertainty on the thermal conductivity (product of thermal diffusivity by density and by specific heat) and on the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT. An increase with temperature of all these uncertainties is observed, in agreement with growing difficulties to measure these quantities when temperature increases. The uncertainties on the electrical resistivity and thermal diffusivity are most likely dominated by the uncertainty on the sample dimensions. The temperature-averaged (300-700 K) relative standard uncertainties at the confidence level of 68% amount to 6%, 8%, 11%, and 19% for the Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity, and figure of merit ZT, respectively. Thermal conductivity measurements appear as the least accurate. The moderate value of the temperature-averaged relative expanded (confidence level of 95%) uncertainty of 17% on the mean of ZT is essential in establishing Co0.97Ni0.03Sb3 as a high temperature standard n-type thermoelectric material.

Successful management of a severe combat penetrating brain injury

We report the case of successful management of a transcranial penetrating high-energy transfer injury in a 20-year-old soldier. The bullet traversed both cerebral hemispheres and lacerated the superior sagittal sinus rendering him unconscious. We detail the care received at all stages following injury from 'Buddy Aid' on the battlefield, resuscitation by a forward medical team through to prompt neurosurgery within 2 h of injury. Subsequent aeromedical evacuation and continuing aggressive critical care has allowed the patient to survive with acceptable neurological impairment after what is generally considered an unsurvivable injury.

[Antibodies against high frequency antigen and total knee replacement]

We report the perioperative management of a woman expressing an antibody against high frequency red cell antigen (anti-Kel4 antibody anti-kpb) who was scheduled for a total knee replacement. A specific strategy was designed to afford this major orthopedic surgery, considering specially the occurrence of unusual bleeding higher than the average bleeding assessed in our hospital in this indication. The transfusion of incompatible red cells may be responsible for acute hemolytic reaction. An autologous transfusion program, including cryopreservation, erythropoietin and iron support, was provided. Three autologous red cells units were collected before surgery. Compatible homologous red cells units were also available at the French bank for rare blood groups. We report logistical and medical problems that have occurred during the perioperative period.

[Understanding mistake-proofing]

The mistake-proofing concept often refers to physical devices that prevent actors from making a wrong action. In anaesthesiology, one immediately thinks to specific design of outlets for medical gases. More generally, the principle of mistake-proofing is to avoid an error, by placing knowledge in the world rather than knowledge in the head. As it often happens in risk management, healthcare has received information transfers from the industry. Computer is changing the concept of mistake-proofing, initially based on physical design, such as aerospace and automotive industry. The mistake-proofing concept may be applied to prevention, detection, and mitigation of errors. The forcing functions are a specific part of mistake-proofing: they prevent a wrong action or they force a virtuous one. Grout proposes a little shortcut to identify mistake-proofing devices: "If it is not possible to picture it in action, it is probably not a mistake-proofing device".

High temperature thermoelectric properties of Mo3Sb(7-x)Te(x) (0.0≤x≤1.8)

Polycrystalline Mo(3)Sb(7-x)Te(x) samples with nominal Te concentrations of x=0.0, 0.3, 1.0, 1.6 and 2.2 have been synthesized by a powder metallurgical route. High temperature thermoelectric properties measurements including thermopower (300-900 K), electrical resistivity (300-800 K) and thermal conductivity (300-1000 K) were carried out. The temperature and compositional variations of the thermopower can be satisfactorily explained by assuming a single parabolic band model with dominant acoustic phonon scattering. However, such a simple model fails to describe the electronic thermal conductivity for low Te concentration. The dimensionless figure of merit, ZT, increases on increasing both the temperature and the Te content to reach a maximum value of 0.3 at 800 K that can be extrapolated to ∼0.6 at 1000 K for Mo(3)Sb(5.4)Te(1.6).

[Use of rFVIIa (Novoseven) in the case of a patient with mitral valvular prothesis and anticoagulant accident]

We report the case of an haemorrhagic shock observed in a woman who received heparin for a cardiac valve in mitral position, efficiently treated with rFVIIa. The haemorrhagic complications under anticoagulation treatment remain rare, but can lead to real therapeutic dilemma. The use of rFVIIa has been evaluated in different clinical situations, including traumatic or post-operative haemorrhagic shock. The use of rFVIIa in the treatment of haemorrhagic complication under anticoagulation treatment is discussed.

Cardiac troponin I release after hip surgery correlates with poor long-term cardiac outcome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of perioperative myocardial damage detected by serial measurements of troponin I after hip surgery and its association with late cardiovascular outcome.

METHODS

Troponin I was measured during the first three postoperative days in 88 consecutive patients undergoing hip surgery. Values above the 99th percentile (0.08 ng mL(-1)) were considered positive. Major cardiac events (cardiac death, myocardial infarction and cardiac failure) were recorded during hospital stay and 1 yr after surgery.

RESULTS

Eleven patients (12.5%) exhibited elevated troponin I levels during hospital stay. Nine of them remained asymptomatic. During follow-up, 45% of them (5/11) suffered from a major cardiac event vs. 4% (3/76) for patients with normal postoperative troponin I levels (P = 0.0006). All-cause mortality rate was 36% (4/11) at 1 yr vs. 7% (5/71, P = 0.0131). Using multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusted for baseline data, independent factors associated with the occurrence of a cardiac event were troponin I elevation (OR=17.4-CI 95% 3.7-82) and age (OR=1.1 yr(-1)-CI 95% 1.01-1.21). Independent factors for all-cause mortality were troponin I elevation (OR=41.4-CI 95% 5.4-320.4), and age (OR=1.3 yr(-1)-CI 95% 1.1-1.4).

CONCLUSION

Troponin I release is common after hip surgery and is associated with a 10-fold increased incidence of long-term major cardiac events as compared to patients with normal troponin I levels (45% vs. 4%).

Spin fluctuations and superconductivity in Mo3Sb7

Temperature dependences of the magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and electrical resistivity have been measured for the Mo(3)Sb(7) compound in the 0.6-350 K range. This compound exhibits bulk superconductivity occurring at 2.25 K and follows the Kadowaki-Woods relation, A/gamma(2)=1.0 x 10(-5) microOmega x cm(K x mol/mJ)(2), as a heavy-fermion system does. We show, from experimental evidence and theoretical argument, that Mo(3)Sb(7) can be classified as a coexistent superconductor-spin fluctuation system. The McMillan equation including paramagnon effects was found to give an accurate estimation of the transition temperature.

Les complications cardiovasculaires aiguës de la cocaïne. À propos de deux observations

Concerning any socioprofessional category, some addictive drugs like cocaine are responsible for many complications. The authors relate two case reports of young patients who suffered from cardiovascular accidents due to this drug. The first one was diagnosed with an ischemic stroke caused by carotid artery dissection and a leg distal vascular obliteration, the second one with a myocardial infarction with transient left ventricular dysfunction. Through these two case reports, the authors take stock of the pathophysiological and therapeutic knowledge of cardiovascular accidents after cocaine intake.