High temperature thermoelectric properties of IV–VI MBE films alloyed with tin

We report on the temperature stability of the unusual conduction type of PbTe and PbSe epitaxial thin films alloyed with tin. Also the origin of the n-type conduction is investigated. In addition investigations have been done to determine the temperature dependent thermoelectric properties (electrical conductivity and thermopower) in the temperature range between 300 K and 600 K. The data derived from thin film material prove that beside the well known p-IV-VI-materials also n-type lead-tin-chalcogenides are suitable for thermoelectric application. To use this material in bulk devices it is necessary to able to transfer the properties to bulk samples. Thus the properties of similar bulk IV-VI lead-tin-chalcogenides were analyzed and compared to the thin film material.