Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
The preparation and characterization of the AgPbmSbTem+2 family of compounds with m=2, 4, 6, and 8 is reported. Phase segregation was observed in all of these materials. The lattice thermal conductivity of these samples is low (<1.1 W/m-K). Powder x-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and electron microscope investigations of these systems show that ideal solid solutions are not formed. The transport properties of these composite materials are presented and suggest that they could have promising thermoelectric properties when optimized.