Thermoelectric properties of Pd alloyed AgTlTe

We have tried to enhance the thermoelectric figure of merit of polycrystalline AgTlTe by alloying Pd. In the present study, we prepared polycrystalline samples of Pd-0 at.%, Pd-5 at.%, Pd-10 at.% alloyed AgTlTe and measured the thermoelectric properties. Polycrystalline samples were prepared from appropriate amounts of Ag₂Te, Tl ₂Te and PdTe_1.3. The electrical resistivity (rho), Seebeck coefficient (S), and thermal conductivity (kappa) were evaluated from room temperature to slightly below the melting temperature, and the effect of Pd alloying on the properties of AgTlTe was studied. Pd-5 at.% and Pd-10 at.% alloyed AgTlTe were made of two phases, AgTlTe containing small amount of Pd and PdTe₂. Pd alloying improved the power factor but increased the thermal conductivity, leading to a slightly increasing of the thermoelectric figure of merit