热电材料能够将废热转换为电能，从而提高能源利用效率，减少化石燃料的使用，然而热电材料较低的能量转换效率以及昂贵的价格限制了热电技术的应用。本项目以廉价的PbSe基材料作为主要研究对象，拟通过形成高熵合金的方法提高材料的热电性能并开发相应的热电发电器件。首先基于固溶原子半径、价态和弹性性能，调控材料的熵值与焓值，制备PbSe基高熵合金热电材料，并建立热电半导体中高熵合金固溶元素筛选准则；然后采用多种表征技术分析高熵合金材料中多尺度元素分布与微观结构，结合理论计算和实验测量，借助于微结构的桥梁作用，研究高熵合金热电材料中熵值与电、热传输性能之间的直接关系；最后采用开发的高性能PbSe基高熵合金热电材料制备高能量转换效率、高服役稳定性的热电发电器件。本项目拟应用高熵合金概念开发高性能的PbSe基热电材料与发电器件，有望促进热电材料基础理论的发展，以及推动热电技术的应用化研究。

Thermoelectric materials, which can directly convert waste heat into electricity, will promote the energy efficiency and reduce fossil fuel consumption. However, the application of thermoelectric technology is hindered by low efficiencies and high costs. This project aims to develop high performance low-cost PbSe-based thermoelectric materials and power generation modules through high-entropy-alloys concept. First, we try to synthesis PbSe-based high-entropy thermoelectric materials by modulating entropy and enthalpy based on atomic radius, valence and elastic properties. And we also try to make the rule of determining high-entropy thermoelectric materials. Then we try to characterize the mapping of elements and microstructure in different scales. Based on the theoretical and experimental results, the relationship among entropy, microstructure and transport properties will be analyzed. Finally, the high performance high-entropy thermoelectric modules with a long service time will be fabricated. In this project, we will use high-entropy concept to improve the thermoelectric properties of PbSe-based materials and fabricate thermoelectric power generation modules, which will promote thermoelectric transport theories and commercial applications.