Highly efficient Ge-Rich Ge _xPb _1-x Te thermoelectric alloys

The search for alternative energy sources is presently at the forefront of applied research. In this context, thermoelectricity for direct energy conversion from thermal to electrical energy plays an important role. This paper is concerned with the development of highly efficient p-type Ge _xPb _1-x Te alloys for thermoelectric applications, using spark plasma sintering. The carrier concentration of GeTe was varied by alloying of PbTe and/or by Bi ₂Te ₃ doping. Very high ZT values up to ∼1.8 at 500°C were obtained by doping Pb _0.13Ge _0.87Te with 3 mol% Bi ₂Te ₃.