Enhanced Thermoelectric Efficiency through Li-Induced Phonon Softening in CuGaTe2

Thermoelectric materials convert thermal energy into electrical energy and can be a solution for the global climate crisis. For advanced thermoelectric applications, the conversion efficiency has to be high, motivating the search for materials with a high average thermoelectric figure of merit. To achieve such large thermoelectric figures of merit, the electronic properties must be maximized, and the thermal transport must be minimized over a …