Reinvestigation of the thermoelectric properties of Ag8GeTe6

Abstract

AbstractHigh‐density polycrystalline samples (above 98% of the theoretical density) of Ag8GeTe6 were prepared by solid‐state reactions of Ag2Te, 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 Ag8GeTe6 exhibited a relatively high thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT = 0.48 at 703 K. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)