Thermoelectric properties of Bi2O2Se

Bi2O2Se was synthesized from Bi2Se3 and Bi2O3 by solid state reaction in an evacuated quartz ampoule. The product crystallizes in the tetragonal type lattice and X-ray pattern displays lines of the Bi2O2Se only. Samples for thermoelectric property measurements were prepared using hot pressing in rectangular graphite dies. The samples were characterized by the measurements of Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity as a function of temperature. From the experimental data we calculate the dimensionless figure of merit ZT that for a non-optimized material approaches the value 0.2 at 800 K. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.