Thermoelectric properties of ductile Ag2S0.7Te0.3 prepared via zone melting method

Abstract

Recently, the discovery of ductility inorganic semiconductors Ag2S-based alloys have drawn significant interest in hetero-shaped thermoelectric applications. In this work, Ag2S0.7Te0.3 inorganic thermoelectric compound was prepared using the zone melting technique. The crystal structure of Ag2S0.7Te0.3 is similar to that of the cubic-structured Ag2S compound, in which S and Te atoms are randomly occupied at the anionic sites. The observed high hall carrier mobility of ∼410 cm2V−1s−1 and intrinsic low lattice thermal conductivity of ∼0.2 Wm−1K−1 lead to a maximum zT of 0.30 at 600 K for Ag2S0.7Te0.3. In addition, its mechanical properties including microhardness Hv and fracture toughness Kc are measured, showing great potential for thermoelectric application.