Electrical and thermoelectric properties of different compositions of Ge–Se–In thin films

The effect of temperature in the range of 300–450 K and the indium content on the electrical and thermoelectric properties of Ge20Se80−xInx (0.0≤x≤24 at%) chalcogenide glassy thin films have been studied. From dc electrical and thermoelectric measurements, it was observed that the activation energies for electrical conductivity (ΔE) and for thermoelectric (ΔEs) decrease while the conductivity (σ) and Seebeck coefficient (S) increase upon introducing In into the Ge–Se glasses. In contrast to the behavior obtained with Bi or Pb doping, In incorporated in Ge–Se does not lead to a p-to n-type conduction inversion. The power factor (P) which is strongly depends on both of the Seebeck coefficient and the electrical conductivity. According to the obtained results, the Ge20Se80−xInx films can be considered potential candidates for incurring high action thermoelectric materials.