Phase Content and Thermoelectric Properties of Optimized Thermoelectric Structures Based on the Ag-Pb-Sb-Te System

Horichok I., AHISKA R., Freik D., Nykyruy L., Mudry S., Matkivskiy O., ...More

JOURNAL OF ELECTRONIC MATERIALS, vol.45, no.3, pp.1576-1583, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 45 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11664-015-4122-9
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1576-1583
  • Keywords: Lead telluride, doping, solid solutions, LAST, thermoelectric properties, HIGH-PERFORMANCE, MICROSTRUCTURES, NANOSTRUCTURES, AGPBMSBTE2+M
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Results of x-ray studies and measurements of thermoelectric parameters (Seebeck coefficient S, specific electrical conductivity sigma, and thermal conductivity chi) of materials based on lead telluride, such as PbTe, PbTe:Sb, PbTe-Sb2Te3, Pb18Ag1Sb1Te20, Pb18Ag2Te20, and PbTe-Ag2Te, are presented. It was found that PbTe:Sb (with 0.3 at.% Sb) as well as Pb18Ag1Sb1Te20 and Pb18Ag2Te20 systems have the highest thermoelectric figure of merit values. In the case of PbTe:Sb, this is due to a significant increase of the electrical conductivity. In the cases of Pb18Ag1Sb1Te20 and Pb18Ag2Te20, it is due to an increase of the Seebeck coefficient and a significant reduction in the thermal conductivity compared with pure PbTe.