AgPb10LaTe12 with different morphologies including cubes, flower-like particles with eight smooth or serrated petals and rods composed of cubic particles have been fabricated by a facile alkaline hydrothermal method. The structures, morphologies, phase compositions and surface compositions were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). Surfactant, solvent, and concentration of KOH have been discussed as experimental parameters to control the morphologies of AgPb10LaTe12. According to experimental results, the possible mechanism of various shapes obtained under different conditions was discussed. Furthermore, the electrical conductivities and Seebeck coefficients of specimens with different morphologies were measured. Among the four samples (cubes, smooth petals, serrated petals, rods), the rod-like particle has the highest power factor, which can reach about 900 μW K−2 m−1.
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