THERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF AgSbSe2 – PbSe CRYSTALS

Abstract

In the present paper the thermoelectric properties of the AgSbSe₂–PbSe solid solutions has been investigated. The most of compounds have a p-type of conductivity. It was shown that both an electric and thermoelectric properties are dependent on the components ratio in AgSbSe₂–PbSe solid solutions. Hence, by tuning the percent ratio of PbSe we can change continuously the electric conductivity of samples. The specific electric conductivity of compounds based on AgSbSe₂ decreases from value 1,4 Ом^-1∙см^-1 to the value 10^-2 Ом^-1∙см^-1 with increasing the percent of PbSe in compounds from zero to 40% respectively. In the paper we also obtained the empirical values of the Seebeck coefficient for the AgSbSe₂–PbSe solid solutions. The values of the Seebeck coefficient are whithin 530 мкВ/К - 1100 мкВ/К for the AgSbSe₂ monocrystals with 60% AgSbSe₂–40% PbSe percent range. The high value of  Seebeck coefficient for AgSbSe₂–PbSe solid solutions gives possibility of using these compounds as sensitive thermodetectors.