Work

Lattice dynamical origin of peak thermoelectric performance in AgPbmSbTe2+m observed by inelastic neutron scattering

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: Phonon densities of states (DOS) for the high performing thermoelectric material, AgPbmSbTe2+m (LAST-m, m = 16, 18, and 20), were extracted from time-of-flight inelastic neutron scattering measurements. The phonon DOS of LAST-18 differs remarkably from LAST-16 and LAST-20 by exhibiting a dramatic broadening of its acoustic modes that increases on heating. This broadening coincides with a minimum in the thermal conductivity, a maximum in the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient, and a related peak in thermoelectric performance. We argue that the anomalous broadening originates with scattering enhanced by modifications to Te-Ag(Sb) bonds caused by their resonant electronic states falling near the Fermi energy for m = 18.

Source: Journal of Applied Physics

DOI: 10.1063/1.3581155

Authors: M. E. Manley, S. Shapiro, Q. Li, A. Llobet, M. E. Hagen

Institutions: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory