Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1329369 | Journal of Solid State Chemistry | 2009 | 6 Pages |
Ag and Sb co-doped PbTe (AgPb18SbTe20) and pure PbTe nanopowders were hydrothermally synthesized. The synthesized nanopowders were heated at 1173–1223 K in vacuum for 5 h followed by a slow cooling. The nanopowders and the bulk samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, respectively. Electrical transport properties of the bulk samples were measured from room temperature to ∼773 K. The results showed that co-doping Ag and Sb into PbTe has significant effects on both the nanopowders and bulk samples. Bulk AgPb18SbTe20 sample showed n-type conduction in the whole temperature range measured, while bulk PbTe sample exhibited a transition from p- to n-type conduction at ∼500 K. The thermoelectric properties of PbTe were markedly improved after co-doping of Ag and Sb. The AgPb18SbTe20 sample has a dimensionless figure of merit of ∼0.94 at 723 K.
Graphical abstractSEM image of the fracture surface of an AgPb18SbTe20 material prepared by combining hydrothermal synthesis and melting. The material has a ZT value of about 0.94 at 723 K.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide