Thermoelectrics

Half-Heusler Thermoelectrics

Robust ternary intermetallics (TiNiSn, ZrCoSb) with 18 valence electrons, combining mechanical strength and thermal stability for vehicle and industrial waste-heat recovery above 600 K.

At a glance

Class Statistics

Compounds Tracked
1,069
Multi-Source DFT
57
With Synthesis Routes
0
Avg. Agreement
0.82 / 1.00
Members

Top Half-Heusler Thermoelectrics

Ranked by data richness — literature synthesis coverage, multi-source DFT corroboration, and patent activity.

FormulaBand GapBest EAH (eV/atom)StabilityDFT SourcesRecipes
HfNiSn0.39 eV0.0000On hull (stable)20
NiSnTi0.45 eV0.0000On hull (stable)20
FeSbV0.35 eV0.0000On hull (stable)30
ZrNiSn0.50 eV0.0000On hull (stable)20
NbCoSn0.97 eV0.0000On hull (stable)20
NiSnZr0.50 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Co1Sb1Ti11.04 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
CoNbSn0.97 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Fe2Sb2V20.35 eV0.0000On hull (stable)20
Ni1Sn1Ti10.45 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Ni1Sn1Zr10.50 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Hf3Ni3Sb40.74 eV0.0000On hull (stable)20
Co1Nb1Sn10.97 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Hf1Ni1Sn10.39 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Fe2Sn1Ti10.05 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Fe2SnTi0.05 eV0.0000On hull (stable)20
Fe2Hf1Sn10.02 eV0.0100Near hull (likely stable)10
Co2Hf1Sb10.40 eV2.7664Above hull10
Fe1Sb1V10.35 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
TiNiSn0.45 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Ni2Sn2Ti20.45 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Ni4Sn4Zr40.50 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Ni4Sn4Ti40.45 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Fe1Nb1Sb10.51 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Hf18Ni18Sn180.39 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Bi1Co1Zr10.98 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
VFeSb0.35 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Fe4Sb4V40.35 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Ni6Sb8Zr60.43 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Zr3Ni3Sb40.43 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Co4Sb4Ti41.04 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Fe8Hf4Sn40.02 eV0.0100Near hull (likely stable)10
Co6Hf3Sb30.40 eV2.7664Above hull10
Co8Hf4Sb40.40 eV2.7664Above hull10
FeNbSb0.51 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
NbFeSb0.51 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
TiCoSb1.04 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
TiFe2Sn0.05 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
ZrCoBi0.98 eV0.0000On hull (stable)10
Hf6NiSb2Metallic / not reported0.0000On hull (stable)30
HfNi2SnMetallic / not reported0.0473Metastable30
Co6Hf6Sn6Metallic / not reported0.0000On hull (stable)20
TiCo2SnMetallic / not reported0.0000On hull (stable)20
Co2Sn1Ti1Metallic / not reported0.0000On hull (stable)10
TiCoSnMetallic / not reported0.0695Metastable20
TiFeSbMetallic / not reported0.0000On hull (stable)20
CoSnTiMetallic / not reported0.0695Metastable10
VCoSnMetallic / not reported0.5924Above hull20
Co2Sn1Zr1Metallic / not reported0.0000On hull (stable)10
FeSnTiMetallic / not reported0.7101Above hull10
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

How many half-heusler thermoelectrics are in the database?

1,069 half-heusler thermoelectrics are tracked, of which 57 have multi-source DFT validation and 0 have documented synthesis routes.

More questions
What is the most data-rich half-heusler thermoelectric?
HfNiSn is the most thoroughly characterized, with 12 reported structures.
Which half-heusler thermoelectric has the widest band gap?
Among the top compounds, Co1Sb1Ti1 has the widest reported DFT band gap (1.04 eV).
What makes half-Heusler alloys suitable for high-temperature applications?
They possess excellent mechanical strength and thermal stability, allowing them to maintain structural integrity and performance in extreme heat environments where other thermoelectric materials might degrade.
Why is the 18-valence-electron count important for these materials?
The 18-electron rule is a structural guideline that typically leads to a semiconducting electronic state, which is a prerequisite for achieving the high Seebeck coefficients required for efficient thermoelectric conversion.
What is the primary limitation of half-Heusler thermoelectrics?
The main drawback is their inherently high lattice thermal conductivity, which allows heat to pass through the material too easily, thereby limiting the overall efficiency of the thermoelectric device.
How can the performance of half-Heusler alloys be improved?
Performance is typically enhanced through strategies like nanostructuring, heavy-element doping, and alloying to increase phonon scattering, which effectively lowers the thermal conductivity without significantly harming the electrical properties.
Explore

Related Material Classes

Screen half-heusler thermoelectrics computationally

Evaluate stability, supply-chain risk, and patent whitespace before committing lab resources.

Explore the Platform →