Thermoelectric properties of TlBiTe2

Polycrystalline samples of TlBiTe2 have been prepared and the thermoelectric properties, such as the electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient, have been measured. The electrical resistivity of TlBiTe2 is slightly higher than that of state-of-the-art thermoelectric materials, and has a positive temperature dependence. The Seebeck coefficient of TlBiTe2 is negative in the whole temperature range, showing n-type semiconductor behavior. The thermal conductivity of TlBiTe2 is relatively low compared with that of state-of-the-art thermoelectric materials. The maximum value of the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT is 0.15 at about 760 K. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.