Understanding nanostructures in thermoelectric materials: an electron microscopy study of AgPb{sub 18}SbSe{sub 20} crystals.
The characterization and understanding of the presence of nanostructuring in bulk thermoelectric materials requires real space atomic level information. We report electron diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies of crystals of the system AgPb{sub 18}SbSe{sub 20} (=18PbSe + AgSbSe{sub 2}) which reveal that this system is nanostructured rather than a solid solution. Nanocrystals of varying sizes are found, endotaxially grown in the matrix of PbSe (phase A), and consist of two phases, a cubic one (phase B) and a tetragonal one (phase C). Well-defined coherent interfaces between the phases in the same nanocrystals are observed. On the basis of the results of combined electron crystallography techniques, we propose reasonable structural models for the phases B and C. There are significant differences in the nanostructuring chemistry between AgPb{sub 18}SbSe{sub 20} and the telluride analog AgPb{sub 18}SbTe{sub 20} (LAST-18).
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 991616
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/MSD/JA-68201; CMATEX; TRN: US201021%%252
- Journal Information:
- Chem. Mater., Vol. 22, Issue 2010; ISSN 0897-4756
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- ENGLISH
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