Semiconducting quaternary chalcogenide glasses as new potential thermoelectric materials: an As–Ge–Se–Sb case

Abstract

The performance of thermoelectric materials may be improved via complex structures, impurities, disorder etc. Chalcogenide glasses possess such properties. In the present paper, we report the electrical and thermoelectric properties of As₁₄Ge₁₄Se_72−xSb_x (where x = 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 at%) chalcogenide glasses in the temperature range of 300 K–450 K. The electrical conductivity has been observed to increase from 1.46 × 10⁻⁹ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ to 1.80 × 10⁻⁶ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ for x = 3 at% to x = 15 at%. The addition of Sb increases the Seebeck coefficient to a large value of 1124 μV K⁻¹ for x = 15 at% at 333 K. As a result of increased electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient for enhanced values of Sb, the power factor (a measure of the performance of the thermoelectric energy converters) has been observed to increase strongly. Results indicate that the investigated chalcogenide glassy compositions may be potential candidates for incurring high action thermoelectric materials.