Significant lattice thermal conductivity reduction following phase separation of the highly efficient GexPb1-xTe thermoelectric alloys

摘要: In an attempt to enhance the thermal electrical conversion efficiency, novel complicated thermoelectric alloys are constantly reported. Most of these reports, correlate low lattice conductivity values, attributing enhanced efficiencies, nanofeatures apparent in their systems. Yet, since most highly efficient materials ever reported based on alloys, a major reduction can be solely attributed alloying/disordering effects. The current manuscript, explores by combined experimental and theoretical, using density functional theory analytical modeling, approaches values originated effects thermoelectrically p-type GexPb1–xTe alloys. By comparing calculated results various following different synthesis routes, it is shown that solution-treated samples fit well while for phase-separated samples, significant ∼50% might expected.