Investigation of Solid-State Immiscibility and Thermoelectric Properties of the System PbTe - PbS

摘要

We have shown that (Pb_(1-m)Sn_mTe)_(1-x)(PbS)_x where m=0.05 and x=0.08 exhibits a ZT of ～1.4 at 700K. This system incorporates two thermoelectric systems: PbS_xTe_(1-x) and Pb_(1-x)Sn_xTe. Here we report the thermoelectric properties of PbS_xTe_(1-x) (x=0.08 and 0.30). The material PbS_(0.08)Te_(0.92) exhibits nucleation and growth of PbS precipitates, while PbS_(0.30)Te_(0.70) exhibits PbS precipitation through spinodal decomposition phase separation. We report the thermoelectric properties of this system as a result of the differing precipitation phenomena.