Camel-back band-induced power factor enhancement of thermoelectric lead-tellurium from Boltzmann transport calculations

Journal Article · Mon Mar 31 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4870494· OSTI ID:22261629

Wang, X. G., E-mail: [e-mail]; Wang, L., E-mail: [e-mail]; Liu, J., E-mail: [e-mail]; Peng, L. M., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[1]

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1. CAS Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Modern Mechanics, School of Engineering Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026 (China)

Band structures of PbTe can be abnormally bended via dual-doping on both the cationic and anionic sites to form camel-back multivalley energy band structures near the band edge. As a result, additional carrier pockets and strong intervalley scattering of carriers are introduced. Boltzmann transport calculations indicate that their contradictory effects yield remarkably enhanced power factor due to the improved thermopower and almost unchanged electrical conductivity in low temperature and high carrier concentration ranges. These findings prove dual-doping-induced band bending as an effective approach to improve the thermoelectric properties of PbTe and other similar materials.

• OSTI ID: 22261629
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 104, Issue 13; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
BOLTZMANN EQUATION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
LEAD TELLURIDES
POWER FACTOR
THERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIES