Promising bulk nanostructured Cu2Se thermoelectrics via high throughput and rapid chemical synthesis

A facile and high yield synthesis route was developed for the fabrication of bulk nanostructured copper selenide (Cu 2 Se) with high thermoelectric efficiency. Starting from readily available precursor materials and by means of rapid and energy-efficient microwave-assisted thermolysis, nanopowders of Cu 2 Se were synthesized. Powder samples and compacted pellets have been characterized in detail for their structural, microstructural and transport properties. α to β phase transition of Cu 2 Se was confirmed using temperature dependent X-ray powder diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analyses. Scanning electron microscopy analysis reveals the presence of secondary globular nanostructures in the order of 200 nm consisting of