Molecular dynamics simulations of the lattice thermal conductivity of CuInTe2

Abstract

The lattice thermal conductivity of thermoelectric material CuInTe2 is predicted using classical molecular dynamics simulations, where a simple but effective Morse-type interatomic potential is constructed by fitting first-principles total energy calculations. In a broad temperature range from 300 to 900 K, our simulated results agree well with those measured experimentally, as well as those obtained from phonon Boltzmann transport equation. By introducing the Cd impurity and Cu vacancy, the thermal conductivity of CuInTe2 can be effectively reduced to further enhance the thermoelectric performance of this chalcopyrite compound.