Coexistence of Large Thermopower and Degenerate Doping in the Nanostructured Material Ag_0.85SnSb_1.15Te₃

Abstract

Ag1-xSnSb1+xTe3 presents a rare combination of large positive thermoelectric power response coexisting with an almost metallic carrier concentration. It is proposed that this unusual state arises from a high effective mass for the hole carriers which may derive from nanostructuring in the material.