title: Cubic AgPb(m)SbTe(2+m): bulk thermoelectric materials with high figure of merit.
abstract: The conversion of heat to electricity by thermoelectric devices may play a key role in the future for energy production and utilization. However, in order to meet that role, more efficient thermoelectric materials are needed that are suitable for high-temperature applications. We show that the material system AgPb(m)SbTe(2+m) may be suitable for this purpose. With m = 10 and 18 and doped appropriately, n-type semiconductors can be produced that exhibit a high thermoelectric figure of merit material ZTmax of approximately 2.2 at 800 kelvin. In the temperature range 600 to 900 kelvin, the AgPb(m)SbTe(2+m) material is expected to outperform all reported bulk thermoelectrics, thereby earmarking it as a material system for potential use in efficient thermoelectric power generation from heat sources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Kuei Fang
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Sim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loo
authors.forename: Fu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Dyck
authors.forename: Ctirad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uher
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hogan
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Polychroniadis
authors.forename: Mercouri G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kanatzidis