Band engineering and tuning thermoelectric transport properties of p-type Bi0.52Sb1.48Te3 by Pb doping for low-temperature power generation

Herein, we report the results of a systematic study on the effect of Pb doping on the thermoelectric transport properties of p-type BiSbTe alloys to validate its potential applications for low-temperature power generation. The maximum power factor (similar to 4.4 mW m(-1) K-2) at 300 K was obtained using 0.31 at.% Pb-doped Bi0.52Sb1.Te-48(3) and was found to originate from an enlarged density of states effective mass as a result of the band engineering effect. The maximum efficiency of thermoelectric power generation (eta(max)) could be enhanced by 150% at Delta T = 220 K when the Pb concentration was optimized. (C) 2017 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.