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Title: Weak Electron Phonon Coupling and Deep Level Impurity for High Thermoelectric Performance Pb1–xGaxTe

Journal Article · · Advanced Energy Materials
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [5];  [3];  [2];  [5];  [2]
  1. Wuhan Univ. of Technology (China); Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
  2. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
  3. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
  4. Wuhan Univ. of Technology (China); Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
  5. Wuhan Univ. of Technology (China)

Abstract High ZT of 1.34 at 766 K and a record high average ZT above 1 in the temperature range of 300‐864 K are attained in n‐type PbTe by engineering the temperature‐dependent carrier concentration and weakening electron–phonon coupling upon Ga doping. The experimental studies and first principles band structure calculations show that doping with Ga introduces a shallow level impurity contributing extrinsic carriers and imparts a deeper impurity level that ionizes at higher temperatures. This adjusts the carrier concentration closer to the temperature‐dependent optimum and thus maximizes the power factor in a wide temperature range. The maximum power factor of 35 µW cm −1 K −2 is achieved for the Pb 0.98 Ga 0.02 Te compound, and is maintained over 20 µWcm −1 K −2 from 300 to 767 K. Band structure calculations and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy corroborate the amphoteric role of Ga in PbTe as the origin of shallow and deep levels. Additionally, Ga doping weakens the electron–phonon coupling, leading to high carrier mobilities in excess of 1200 cm 2 V −1 s −1 . Enhanced point defect phonon scattering yields a reduced lattice thermal conductivity. This work provides a new avenue, beyond the conventional shallow level doping, for further improving the average ZT in thermoelectric materials.

Research Organization:
Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0014520; 51521001; 51632006; DE‐SC0014520
OSTI ID:
1775439
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1437491
Journal Information:
Advanced Energy Materials, Vol. 8, Issue 21; ISSN 1614-6832
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 89 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Charge and phonon transport in PbTe-based thermoelectric materials journal November 2018
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The high thermoelectric performance of slightly Sb doped PbTe alloys journal January 2020
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