Conductive isostructural compounds
AssigneeBoard of Trustees operating Michigan State University
InventorsMercouri G. Kanatzidis, Duck Young Chung, Stephane DeNardi, Sandrine Sportouch
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Abstract
A family of isostructural compounds have been prepared having the general formula AnPbmBinQ2n+m. These compounds possess a NaCl lattice type structure as well as low thermal conductivity and controlled electrical conductivity. Furthermore, the electrical properties can be controlled by varying the values for n and m. These isostructural compounds can be used for semiconductor applications such as detectors, lasers and photovoltaic cells. These compounds also have enhanced thermoelectric properties making them excellent semiconductor materials for fabrication of thermoelectric devices.
Claims44
A conductive material having the general formula AnMmM′nQ2n+m wherein:
- A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and TI;
- M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Pb, Sn, Ge, Ca, Sr, Ba and any divalent transition metal;
- M′ is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Bi and Sb;
- Q is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Se, Te and S;
- and
- n and m are any number greater than 0.
A solid solution comprising a conductive material having the general formula AnMmM′nQ2n+m wherein:
- A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and TI;
- M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Pb, Sn, Ge, Ca, Sr, Ba and any divalent transition metal;
- M′ is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Bi and Sb;
- Q is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Se, Te and S;
- and
- n and m are any number greater than 0.
A P-type conductive material comprising:
- (a) a conductive material having the general formula AnMmM′nQ2n+m wherein:
- A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and TI;
- M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Pb, Sn, Ge, Ca, Sr, Ba and any divalent transition metal;
- M ′ is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Bi and Sb;
- Q is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Se, Te, and S;
- and
- n and m are any numbers greater than 0;
- and
- (b) a dopant.
An N-type conductive material comprising:
- (a) a conductive material having the general formula AnMmM′nQ2n+m wherein:
- A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and TI;
- M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Pb, Sn, Ge, Ca, Sr, Ba and any divalent transition metal;
- M′ is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Bi and Sb;
- Q is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Se, Te and S;
- and
- n and m are any number greater than 0;
- and
- (b) a dopant.
A solid solution comprising a conductive material having the general formula AnMmM′nQ2n+m wherein:
- A is at least two elements selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, Rb, Cs, TI, and Ag;
- M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Pb, Sn, Ge, Ca, Sr, Ba and any divalent transition metal;
- M′ is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Bi and Sb;
- Q is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Se, Te and S;
- and
- n and m are any number greater than 0.
A conductive material having the general formula AnMmM′nQ2n+m wherein:
- A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, TI, and Ag;
- M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Pb, Sn, Ge, Ca, Sr, Ba and any divalent transition metal;
- M′ is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Bi and Sb;
- Q is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Se, Te and S;
- and
- n and m are integers greater than 0.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.