Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
PbTe-based materials are promising for efficient heat energy to electricity conversion. We present studies of the thermoelectric properties of the PbTe-SrTe system. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that all the samples crystallize in the rock salt structure without noticeable secondary phase. Na2Te doping of the PbTe-SrTe materials resulting in a positive sign Hall coefficient indicating p-type conduction. Lattice thermal conductivity is significantly decreased with the insertion of SrTe in PbTe lattice. The ZT ∼ 1.3 of these materials is derived from their very low thermal conductivities and reasonably high power factor at 800 K.