JNCASR scientists find wave-like heat transport in TlCu5Se3, aiding waste-heat-to-electricity conversion
On 14 September 2026, the Department of Science and Technology said researchers at JNCASR, Bengaluru, found an unusual wave-like heat transport regime in the copper chalcogenide thallium copper selenide (TlCu5Se3).
Summary
Researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology, found that thallium copper selenide (TlCu5Se3) shows an unusual wave-like heat transport regime. In the material, copper ions move only within a confined crystalline framework, which suppresses heat flow while keeping the structure stable, unlike conventional superionic materials whose highly mobile ions can make them unstable. Low lattice thermal conductivity with structural stability is valuable for thermoelectric materials, which turn waste heat into electricity in power plants, cement and steel plants, vehicles, data centres and battery systems. The work, led by Prof. Kanishka Biswas of JNCASR's New Chemistry Unit with theoretical support from Prof. Umesh V. Waghmare's group, was published in Science Advances.
Key facts
- Institute
- JNCASR, Bengaluru — autonomous body under DST
- Material
- Thallium copper selenide (TlCu5Se3), a copper chalcogenide
- Finding
- Wave-like heat transport from confined copper-ion diffusion
- Use
- Thermoelectric conversion of waste heat into electricity
- Team lead
- Prof. Kanishka Biswas, New Chemistry Unit
- Journal
- Science Advances
Practice MCQs 2 questions
In which material did JNCASR researchers report an unusual wave-like heat transport regime useful for thermoelectric conversion (September 2026)?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Thallium copper selenide (TlCu5Se3)
The JNCASR team found wave-like heat transport in the copper chalcogenide TlCu5Se3.
Consider the following about the JNCASR study on TlCu5Se3: 1. Thermoelectric materials convert waste heat directly into electricity. 2. JNCASR is an autonomous institution under the Department of Biotechnology. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. Thermoelectric materials turn waste heat into electricity; JNCASR, Bengaluru, is an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology, not the Department of Biotechnology.