Improving thermoelectric performance by constructing a SnTe/ZnO core-shell structure.

SnTe is becoming a new research focus as an intermediate temperature thermoelectric material for its environment-friendly property. Herein, the SnTe/ZnO core-shell structure prepared by a facile hydrothermal method is firstly constructed to enhance the thermoelectric performance. The characterization results demonstrate that ZnO nanosheets are coated on the surface of SnTe particles by synthesis and converted into ZnO nano-dots by spark plasma sintering.