Year: 1999
Type: article
Abstract: P-type Pb1−xSnxTe single crystals were prepared by a Bridgman method with various Sn content (x). Electrical conductivity (σ), Hall coefficient (RH) and thermal conductivity (κ) were measured in the temperature range of 300 to 700 K. Hole concentration at 77 K changed from 2.0×1024 to 4.9×1026 m−3 as x varied from 0 to 1.0. The σ value increased monotonously with increasing x. The minimum of κ found at x=0.25 were resulted from that of the lattice thermal conductivity (κlattice), since the phonon-phonon scattering in the solid solution may have decreased the lattice thermal conductivity. The ratio of electrical conductivity to thermal conductivity (σ⁄κ), to which the figure of merit Z is proportional, increased with increasing x and then reached its maximum at x=0.5. It was revealed that the thermoelectric performance of Pb1−xSnxTe can be improved by controlling its composition.
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2606736659