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Title: Amphoteric Indium Enables Carrier Engineering to Enhance the Power Factor and Thermoelectric Performance in n-Type AgnPb100InnTe100+2n (LIST)

Journal Article · · Advanced Energy Materials

Abstract The Ag and In co‐doped PbTe, Ag n Pb 100 In n Te 100+2 n (LIST), exhibits n ‐type behavior and features unique inherent electronic levels that induce self‐tuning carrier density. Results show that In is amphoteric in the LIST, forming both In 3+ and In 1+ centers. Through unique interplay of valence fluctuations in the In centers and conduction band filling, the electron carrier density can be increased from ≈3.1 × 10 18 cm −3 at 323 K to ≈2.4 × 10 19 cm −3 at 820 K, leading to large power factors peaking at ≈16.0 µWcm −1 K −2 at 873 K. The lone pair of electrons from In + can be thermally continuously promoted into the conduction band forming In 3+ , consistent with the amphoteric character of In. Moreover, with rising temperature, the Fermi level shifts into the conduction band, which enlarges the optical band gap based on the Moss–Burstein effect, and reduces bipolar diffusion and thermal conductivity. Adding extra Ag in LIST improves the electrical transport properties and meanwhile lowers the lattice thermal conductivity to ≈0.40 Wm −1 K −1 . The addition of Ag creates spindle‐shaped Ag 2 Te nanoprecipitates and atomic‐scale interstitials that scatter a broader set of phonons. As a result, a maximum ZT value ≈1.5 at 873 K is achieved in Ag 6 Pb 100 InTe 102 (LIST).

Research Organization:
Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); National Key Research and Development Program of China; National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0014520; 2018YFB0703600; 51772012; 51632005; 51571007; ECCS-1542205; DMR-1720139; DE‐SC0014520
OSTI ID:
1777378
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1498571
Journal Information:
Advanced Energy Materials, Vol. 9, Issue 17; ISSN 1614-6832
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 45 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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