A Systematic Investigation of PbSe Thermoelectric Material

TL;DR

This paper systematically investigates how gallium doping enhances the thermoelectric properties of PbSe, demonstrating improved ZT values and potential for mid-temperature applications.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of Ga doping effects on PbSe's thermoelectric performance, highlighting optimal doping levels and underlying mechanisms.

Findings

Maximum ZT of ~1.2 at 873 K with 0.005 at.% Ga

Improved electrical conductivity and reduced thermal conductivity

Ga doping enhances PbSe's thermoelectric efficiency

Abstract

The thermoelectric characteristics of lead selenium (PbSe) doped with gallium (Ga) are investigated in this study. When the lead sulfide (PbSe) is tuned with appropriate dopants, it exhibits satisfactory ZT values, hence making it a promising thermoelectric material. This study examines the electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, and power factor of PbSe, with varying amounts of added Ga. Results indicate that incorporating Ga into PbSe improves its thermoelectric performance, with a maximum ZT value of approximately 1.2 at 873 K for the optimal doping concentration of 0.005 atomic percent. This improvement is attributed to the combined effects of increased electrical conductivity and reduced thermal conductivity. These findings suggest that Ga-doped PbSe is a promising candidate for mid-temperature thermoelectric applications.