High thermoelectric properties of PbTe–Sm2Se3 composites

Abstract Composites of nominal composition (Pb0.96Na0.04Te)1 − x(Sm2Se3)x with x = 0, 0.005, 0.015, 0.02, 0.025, 0.040 and 0.050 have been synthesized to study their thermoelectric properties. In these composites, Sm2Se3 is the secondary phase. It increases the hole carrier concentration due to more Na dissolved in the PbTe-based solid solution by replacing Te with Se, but decreases its carrier mobility. The Sm2Se3 reduces the power factor slightly, but reduces the thermal conductivity significantly. As a result, the figure of merit ZT can be enhanced with proper Sm2Se3 content. The highest ZT achieved is 1.5 in the composite with x = 0.025.

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