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Title: Heavy Doping and Band Engineering by Potassium to Improve the Thermoelectric Figure of Merit in p-Type PbTe, PbSe, and PbTe1–ySey

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja301245b· OSTI ID:1386807
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA (United States). Dept. of Physics
  2. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Here we present detailed studies of potassium doping in PbTe1–ySey (y = 0, 0.15, 0.25, 0.75, 0.85, 0.95, and 1). It was found that Se increases the doping concentration of K in PbTe as a result of the balance of electronegativity and also lowers the lattice thermal conductivity because of the increased number of point defects. Tuning the composition and carrier concentration to increase the density of states around the Fermi level results in higher Seebeck coefficients for the two valence bands of PbTe1–ySey. Peak thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) values of ~1.6 and ~1.7 were obtained for Te-rich K0.02Pb0.98Te0.75Se0.25 at 773 K and Se-rich K0.02Pb0.98Te0.15Se0.85 at 873 K, respectively. However, the average ZT was higher in Te-rich compositions than in Se-rich compositions, with the best found in K0.02Pb0.98Te0.75Se0.25. Such a result is due to the improved electron transport afforded by heavy K doping with the assistance of Se.

Research Organization:
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0001299
OSTI ID:
1386807
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 134, Issue 24; ISSN 0002-7863
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 307 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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