Leveraging room-temperature plastic deformation for tailoring inorganic thermoelectrics.

Room-temperature plastic deformation and annealing can enhance mechanical strength of Mg3(Sb, Bi)2 without permanently harming its thermoelectric properties, with yield strength increasing up to 83.4%.

• Why it matters: Understanding how deformation affects thermoelectric materials is crucial for developing durable, high-performance devices that operate under mechanical stress, addressing a key gap in material stability.
• What they did: The study examined the effects of compressive deformation and subsequent annealing on Mg3(Sb, Bi)2, analyzing defect evolution, electrical transport, and mechanical properties, including dislocation and twin densities.
• The result: Dislocations primarily scatter electrons, causing temporary electrical deterioration, but annealing reduces their density, restoring thermoelectric performance; twins contribute to mechanical strengthening, enabling robust, efficient materials.