PbTe is one of the most studied thermoelectric semiconductors because its alloys have the highest energy conversion efficiency.
The ‘HOT’ article from Energy & Environmental Science combines alloy scattering of phonons and resonant electronic levels to reach a high thermoelectric figure of merit in PbTeSe and PbTeS alloys. It is thought that thallium triggers formation of resonant electronic states in PbTe alloys’ valence bands that enhance the thermoelectric figure of merit.
Read the article in full:
Combining alloy scattering of phonons and resonant electronic levels to reach a high thermoelectric figure of merit in PbTeSe and PbTeS alloys
Christopher M. Jaworski, Bartlomiej Wiendlocha, Vladimir Jovovic and Joseph P. Heremans
Energy Environ. Sci., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C1EE01895G
