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01-12-2012 | Research Paper

Bottom-up processing of thermoelectric nanocomposites from colloidal nanocrystal building blocks: the case of Ag₂Te–PbTe

Authors: Doris Cadavid, Maria Ibáñez, Stéphane Gorsse, Antonio M. López, Albert Cirera, Joan Ramon Morante, Andreu Cabot

Published in: Journal of Nanoparticle Research | Issue 12/2012

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Abstract

Nanocomposites are highly promising materials to enhance the efficiency of current thermoelectric devices. A straightforward and at the same time highly versatile and controllable approach to produce nanocomposites is the assembly of solution-processed nanocrystal building blocks. The convenience of this bottom-up approach to produce nanocomposites with homogeneous phase distributions and adjustable composition is demonstrated here by blending Ag₂Te and PbTe colloidal nanocrystals to form Ag₂Te–PbTe bulk nanocomposites. The thermoelectric properties of these nanocomposites are analyzed in the temperature range from 300 to 700 K. The evolution of their electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient is discussed in terms of the blend composition and the characteristics of the constituent materials.

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Notice that there is some controversy in the nomenclature of the different Ag₂Te phases. We use α to denote the low-temperature Ag₂Te phase and β for the high-temperature one.

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Title: Bottom-up processing of thermoelectric nanocomposites from colloidal nanocrystal building blocks: the case of Ag2Te–PbTe
Authors: Doris Cadavid
Maria Ibáñez
Stéphane Gorsse
Antonio M. López
Albert Cirera
Joan Ramon Morante
Andreu Cabot
Publication date: 01-12-2012
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Journal of Nanoparticle Research / Issue 12/2012
Print ISSN: 1388-0764
Electronic ISSN: 1572-896X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-012-1328-0

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