Influence of samarium on the thermoelectric figure of merit of SmxPb1−xTe alloys

The temperature and concentration dependences of the electrical (conductivity σ, the Hall coefficient R), thermoelectric (thermovoltage α), and thermal (thermal conductivity Ktot) characteristics of SmxPb1−xTe alloys (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08) are studied in the temperature range 100–500 K. Using the data for σ, α, and Ktot, the thermoelectric power α2σ, figure of merit Z, and efficiency δ are calculated. It is established that at room-temperature α2σ and Z peak at the hole concentration p ≈ 1.2 × 1018 cm−3.