Recent Advances in SnSe Nanostructures beyond Thermoelectricity

Abstract

Layered SnSe is an emerging class of black phosphorus, which is non-toxic, eco-friendly, and chemically stable. Recently, SnSe nanostructures have triggered more research interest and enabled broad applications beyond demonstrating their great performances on thermoelectricity. However, there are also a great many significant studies of SnSe nanostructures beyond thermoelectricity. SnSe quantum dots, nanosheets, nanowires, and thin films with diverse morphologies have been synthesized using various chemical and physical preparation approaches. SnSe is a multi-phase semiconductor, and its nanostructures endow unique properties, including small electron effective mass, ultralow thermal conductivity, huge anisotropy, and the largest 2D piezoelectric coefficient ever predicted. The versatility of SnSe nanostructures can enable potential applications ranging from ultrafast photonics, logic devices, photodetectors, solar cells, photocatalysis, energy storage, and biology to more cutting-edge interdisciplinary subjects. In this review, the recent advances made in SnSe nanostructures are summarized, covering basics, synthesis, properties, and applications, just giving a passing comment on thermoelectricity. An in-depth perspective on the challenges and prospects of SnSe nanostructures toward broad and practical applications is also given.

Enhanced Room-Temperature Thermoelectric Performance of 2D-SnSe Alloys via Electric-Current-Assisted Sintering

“…The extremely mobile Cu ions in Cu 2 Se [ 19 ] and the SnSe lone pair electrons [ 7 ] induce an innately low κ L with better TE performance. An alloying strategy with dilute Cu 2 Se emerges rationally to enhance the SnSe TE efficiency in the low-temperature range [ 19 ].…”

“…Although the out-of-plane κ (along the a -axis) can reach the amorphous limit of SnSe [ 5 ], the layered structure hinders electrical transport and PF [ 6 ]. The low-temperature Pnma SnSe phase displays a relatively low-lying σ (high ρ ) with a high S , reflecting its intrinsically low hole carrier density ( n H ) of 10 17 cm −3 [ 7 ].…”

SnSe Nanosheets Mimic Lactate Dehydrogenase to Reverse Tumor Acid Microenvironment Metabolism for Enhancement of Tumor Therapy

“…Layered SnSe is an emerging black phosphorus structure [ 19 ]. Owing to the increase in the number of layers, the catalytic activity of SnSe nanosheets decreases significantly [ 15 ].…”

Piezoionic SnSe Nanosheets‐Double Network Hydrogel for Self‐Powered Strain Sensing and Energy Harvesting

“…The reports show that adding nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and MXene to hydrogels can effectively enhance their mechanical and electrical properties, as well as realize the functionalization of hydrogels. [ 14 ] The 2D SnSe nanosheets (NSs) have good stability and biocompatibility, [ 15 ] and can improve the piezoelectric properties of organic materials. [ 16 ] We previously synthesized a hierarchical SnSe‐hydrogel composite based on Rayleigh‐Bénard convection, [ 17 ] which provides an idea for developing high‐performance hydrogel sensors.…”