Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1329369 Journal of Solid State Chemistry 2009 6 Pages PDF
Abstract

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

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemistry Inorganic Chemistry
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