Reinvestigation of the thermoelectric properties of Ag₈GeTe₆

Abstract

Abstract High‐density polycrystalline samples (above 98% of the theoretical density) of Ag 8 GeTe 6 were prepared by solid‐state reactions of Ag 2 Te, GeTe, and Te, followed by hot‐pressing. The thermoelectric properties were measured at temperatures ranging from room temperature to around 700 K. The thermal conductivity values were extremely low (0.25 Wm –1 K –1 at room temperature), and consequently Ag 8 GeTe 6 exhibited a relatively high thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT = 0.48 at 703 K. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)