title: Synthesis and thermoelectric properties of compositional-modulated lead telluride-bismuth telluride nanowire heterostructures.
abstract: We demonstrate the rational solution-phase synthesis of compositional modulated telluride nanowire heterostructures containing lead telluride (PbTe) and bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3). By tuning the ratio between PbTe and Bi2Te3 through adjusting the amount of critical reactants and precursors during the synthesis, the influence of composition on the thermoelectric properties of the nanowire heterostructures has been investigated in hot pressed nanocomposite pellets. Measurements of the thermoelectric properties show strongly reduced thermal conductivity that leads to an enhanced thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 1.2 at 620 K.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Haiyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Tianli
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Haoran
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiulin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu