Synthesis of PbTe thermoelectric materials by alkaline reducing chemical routes

Binary PbTe thermoelectric compounds have been successfully synthesized by alkaline reducing solvothermal, hydrothermal and low-temperature aqueous chemical routes using Pb(CH3COO)2·3H2O and pure tellurium as precursors, and NaBH4 as the reductant. Compared to PbTe powders synthesized by solvothermal and hydrothermal routes, smaller PbTe nanopowders of about 20 nm have been obtained by low-temperature aqueous chemical route. Possible formation mechanisms of PbTe were discussed.