Enhanced Power Factor and Figure of Merit of CuZnSnSe-Based Thermoelectric Composites by Ag Alloying.

The quaternary chalcogenide composites CuZnSnAgSe (0 ≤ ≤ 0.075) have been successfully synthesized by high-temperature melting and annealing followed by hot-pressing. The phase structure of the bulk sample has been analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement combined with Raman spectroscopy to confirm CuZnSnSe as the main phase with ZnSe and CuZn secondary phases.

Low thermal conductivity and high figure of merit for rapidly synthesized n-type PbBiTe alloys.

High figures of merit of n-type Pb1-xBixTe alloys have been achieved by rapid synthesis at low temperature. The effects of Bi dopant and microwave hydrothermal technology on microstructure and thermoelectric performance have been studied. The solid solubility limit of Bi in PbTe is between x = 0.