Influence of PBTE Addition on the Electric Charge and Heat Transport in AgSbSe₂

The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of PbTe addition on the thermoelectric properties and band parameters of AgSbSe2 at temperatures below room temperature. For this purpose, the polycrystalline (AgSbSe2)x(PbTe)1-x (x=1; 0.9; 0.85) samples were prepared by direct fusion method. The temperature dependences of electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity of (AgSbSe2)x(PbTe)1-x (x=1; 0.9; 0.85) samples were investigated in the temperature range 80-350K. The value of electrical conductivity of PbTe added samples decreased compared to AgSbSe2. Simultaneously, the inversion of the sign of Seebeck coefficient (n→p) in (AgSbSe2)x(PbTe)1-x (x=0.9; 0.85) solid solutions at temperatures of T>110K was observed. It was determined that the effective mass of holes value in (AgSbSe2)x(PbTe)1-x (x=0.9; 0.85) solid solutions increased compared to AgSbSe2. It has been found that the lattice thermal conductivity of (AgSbSe2)x(PbTe)1-x (x=0.9; 0.85) solid solutions decreases significantly with increasing PbTe amount in AgSbSe2.