Abstract
We report the synthesis, microstructure, and transport properties of composite thermoelectric materials based on the eutectic phase relationship between PbTe and Ge. When quenched, these eutectic mixtures exhibit considerably stronger mechanical strength and reduced brittleness compared to PbTe itself, while at the same time they possess lower lattice thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity measurements show values lower than expected based on the law of mixtures and multiphase composites. We find that the thermoelectric performance in these composites can be tuned through the use of hypereutectic compositions and alloying of Ge with Si. PbI2 was used as an n -type dopant, and precise control of the carrier concentration was achieved to optimize the electrical transport and thermoelectric properties. ZT values approaching 1.3 at 778 K have been obtained in samples of PbTe- Ge0.8 Si0.2 (5%), which represent an ∼62% improvement over that of PbTe.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 083718 |
| Journal | Journal of Applied Physics |
| Volume | 105 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2009 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
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High thermoelectric figure of merit and improved mechanical properties in melt quenched PbTe-Ge and PbTe- Ge1-x Six eutectic and hypereutectic composites. / Sootsman, Joseph R.; He, Jiaqing; Dravid, Vinayak P.; Li, Chang Peng; Uher, Ctirad; Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.
In: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 105, No. 8, 083718, 2009.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - High thermoelectric figure of merit and improved mechanical properties in melt quenched PbTe-Ge and PbTe- Ge1-x Six eutectic and hypereutectic composites
AU - Sootsman, Joseph R.
AU - He, Jiaqing
AU - Dravid, Vinayak P.
AU - Li, Chang Peng
AU - Uher, Ctirad
AU - Kanatzidis, Mercouri G
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - We report the synthesis, microstructure, and transport properties of composite thermoelectric materials based on the eutectic phase relationship between PbTe and Ge. When quenched, these eutectic mixtures exhibit considerably stronger mechanical strength and reduced brittleness compared to PbTe itself, while at the same time they possess lower lattice thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity measurements show values lower than expected based on the law of mixtures and multiphase composites. We find that the thermoelectric performance in these composites can be tuned through the use of hypereutectic compositions and alloying of Ge with Si. PbI2 was used as an n -type dopant, and precise control of the carrier concentration was achieved to optimize the electrical transport and thermoelectric properties. ZT values approaching 1.3 at 778 K have been obtained in samples of PbTe- Ge0.8 Si0.2 (5%), which represent an ∼62% improvement over that of PbTe.
AB - We report the synthesis, microstructure, and transport properties of composite thermoelectric materials based on the eutectic phase relationship between PbTe and Ge. When quenched, these eutectic mixtures exhibit considerably stronger mechanical strength and reduced brittleness compared to PbTe itself, while at the same time they possess lower lattice thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity measurements show values lower than expected based on the law of mixtures and multiphase composites. We find that the thermoelectric performance in these composites can be tuned through the use of hypereutectic compositions and alloying of Ge with Si. PbI2 was used as an n -type dopant, and precise control of the carrier concentration was achieved to optimize the electrical transport and thermoelectric properties. ZT values approaching 1.3 at 778 K have been obtained in samples of PbTe- Ge0.8 Si0.2 (5%), which represent an ∼62% improvement over that of PbTe.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=65449124175&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=65449124175&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1063/1.3093833
DO - 10.1063/1.3093833
M3 - Article
VL - 105
JO - Journal of Applied Physics
JF - Journal of Applied Physics
SN - 0021-8979
IS - 8
M1 - 083718
ER -