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Understanding Electrical Transport and the Large Power Factor Enhancements in Co-Nanostructured PbTe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Joseph R Sootsman ,
Vladimir Jovovic ,
Christopher M Jaworski ,
Joseph P Heremans ,
Jiaqing He ,
Vinayak P Dravid  and
Mercouri G Kanatzidis
Joseph R Sootsman
Affiliation:
j-sootsman@northwestern.edu, Northwestern University, Department of Chemistry, Evanston, Illinois, United States
Vladimir Jovovic
Affiliation:
jovovic.1@osu.edu, Ohio State University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbus, United States
Christopher M Jaworski
Affiliation:
jaworski.15@osu.edu, Ohio State University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbus, United States
Joseph P Heremans
Affiliation:
heremans.1@osu.edu, Ohio State University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbus, United States
Jiaqing He
Affiliation:
jiaqing-he@northwestern.edu, Northwestern University, Materials Science and Engineering, Evanston, Illinois, United States
Vinayak P Dravid
Affiliation:
v-dravid@northwestern.edu, Northwestern University, Materials Science and Engineering, Evanston, Illinois, United States
Mercouri G Kanatzidis
Affiliation:
m-kanatzidis@northwestern.edu, Northwestern University, Department of Chemistry, Evanston, Illinois, United States
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Abstract

We previously reported the synthesis of nanostructured composite PbTe with excess Pb and Sb metal inclusions. The electrical conductivity shows an unusual temperature dependence that depends on the inclusion Pb/Sb ratio, resulting in marked enhancements in power factor and ZT at 700 K. Additional investigation of the transport and structure of these materials is reported here. Measurements of the scattering parameter reveals there is little change in electron scattering with respect to pure PbTe. High resolution electron microscopy was used to determine additional information about the nature of the precipitate phases present in the samples. High temperature transmission electron microscopy reveals that the precipitates begin to dissolve at high temperatures and completely disappear at T > 619K. A qualitative explanation of the unusual transport behavior of these materials is presented.

Keywords

thermoelectricnanostructuretransmission electron microscopy (TEM)
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1166: Symposium N – Materials and Devices for Thermal-to-Electric Energy Conversion , 2009 , 1166-N04-01
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

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References

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