Abstract
The average and local structures of the (PbTe) 1-x (PbS) x system of thermoelectric materials has been studied using the Rietveld and atomic pair distribution function methods. Samples with 0.25≤x are macroscopically phase separated. Phase separation was suppressed in a quenched x=0.5 sample which, nonetheless, exhibited a partial spinodal decomposition. The promising thermoelectric material with x=0.16 showed intermediate behavior. Combining TEM and bulk scattering data suggests that the sample is a mixture of PbTe-rich material and a partially spinodally decomposed phase similar to the quenched 50% sample. This confirms that, in the bulk, this sample is inhomogeneous on a nanometer length scale, which may account for its enhanced thermoelectric figure of merit.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 045204 |
| Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
| Volume | 80 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 6 2009 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
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Phase separation and nanostructuring in the thermoelectric material PbTe1-x Sx studied using the atomic pair distribution function technique. / Lin, He; Božin, E. S.; Billinge, S. J L; Androulakis, J.; Malliakas, C. D.; Lin, C. H.; Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.
In: Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 80, No. 4, 045204, 06.08.2009.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Phase separation and nanostructuring in the thermoelectric material PbTe1-x Sx studied using the atomic pair distribution function technique
AU - Lin, He
AU - Božin, E. S.
AU - Billinge, S. J L
AU - Androulakis, J.
AU - Malliakas, C. D.
AU - Lin, C. H.
AU - Kanatzidis, Mercouri G
PY - 2009/8/6
Y1 - 2009/8/6
N2 - The average and local structures of the (PbTe) 1-x (PbS) x system of thermoelectric materials has been studied using the Rietveld and atomic pair distribution function methods. Samples with 0.25≤x are macroscopically phase separated. Phase separation was suppressed in a quenched x=0.5 sample which, nonetheless, exhibited a partial spinodal decomposition. The promising thermoelectric material with x=0.16 showed intermediate behavior. Combining TEM and bulk scattering data suggests that the sample is a mixture of PbTe-rich material and a partially spinodally decomposed phase similar to the quenched 50% sample. This confirms that, in the bulk, this sample is inhomogeneous on a nanometer length scale, which may account for its enhanced thermoelectric figure of merit.
AB - The average and local structures of the (PbTe) 1-x (PbS) x system of thermoelectric materials has been studied using the Rietveld and atomic pair distribution function methods. Samples with 0.25≤x are macroscopically phase separated. Phase separation was suppressed in a quenched x=0.5 sample which, nonetheless, exhibited a partial spinodal decomposition. The promising thermoelectric material with x=0.16 showed intermediate behavior. Combining TEM and bulk scattering data suggests that the sample is a mixture of PbTe-rich material and a partially spinodally decomposed phase similar to the quenched 50% sample. This confirms that, in the bulk, this sample is inhomogeneous on a nanometer length scale, which may account for its enhanced thermoelectric figure of merit.
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U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevB.80.045204
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevB.80.045204
M3 - Article
VL - 80
JO - Physical Review B-Condensed Matter
JF - Physical Review B-Condensed Matter
SN - 1098-0121
IS - 4
M1 - 045204
ER -