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Thallium-Free Thermoelectric Materials with Extremely Low Thermal Conductivity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Shinsuke Yamanaka
Affiliation:
yamanaka@see.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp, Osaka University, Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
Ken Kurosaki
Affiliation:
kurosaki@see.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp, Osaka University, Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
Anek Charoenphakdee
Affiliation:
anek@ms.see.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp, Osaka University, Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
Hideaki Mastumoto
Affiliation:
matsumoto@ms.see.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp, Osaka University, Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
Hiroaki Muta
Affiliation:
muta@see.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp, Osaka University, Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
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Abstract

With the goal of developing high-performance bulk thermoelectric materials, we have characterized ternary silver thallium tellurides. The ternary silver thallium tellurides exhibit extremely low thermal conductivity (<0.5 Wm−1K−1) and consequently their thermoelectric performance is excellent. Although the extremely low thermal conductivity materials, as typified by the ternary silver thallium tellurides, would be a new class of next-generation thermoelectric materials, thallium compounds are unsuitable for practical application because of their toxicity. Against such a background, we are currently exploring thallium-free thermoelectric materials with extremely low thermal conductivity. In this paper, we will briefly summarize the thermoelectric properties of ternary thallium tellurides obtained in our group. Further experiments aimed at improving the ZT of these materials will be presented. Finally, we will propose two candidates: Ag8GeTe6 and Ga2Te3 as thallium-free low thermal conductivity materials.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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