High thermoelectric and reversible p-n-p conduction type switching integrated in dimetal chalcogenide.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors achieved the high thermoelectric performance (ZT value reaches 1.5 at 700 K) and reversible p-n-p semiconducting switching integrated in a dimetal chalcogenide, AgBiSe2 during the continuous hexagonal-rhombohedral-cubic phase transition.

Abstract: The subject of the involved phase transition in solid materials has formed not only the basis of materials technology but also the central issue of solid-state chemistry for centuries. The ability to design and control the required changes in physical properties within phase transition becomes key prerequisite for the modern functionalized materials. Herein, we have experimentally achieved the high thermoelectric performance (ZT value reaches 1.5 at 700 K) and reversible p-n-p semiconducting switching integrated in a dimetal chalcogenide, AgBiSe2 during the continuous hexagonal–rhombohedral–cubic phase transition. The clear-cut evidences in temperature-dependent positron annihilation and Raman spectra confirmed that the p-n-p switching is derived from the bimetal atoms exchange within phase transition, whereas the full disordering of bimetal atoms after the bimetal exchange results in the high thermoelectric performance. The combination of p-n-p switching and high thermoelectric performance enables the di...