Increase in thermoelectric figure of merit in SmxPb1−xTe solid solutions through substitution of lead atoms by samarium atoms

On the basis of temperature relationships of electric conduction (σ), thermo-emf (α), heat conduction (Ktot), thermoelectric power α2σ and figure of merit Z in SmxPb1−xTe solid solutions are calculated. It has been shown that the growth in the number of samarium atoms, which replace lead atoms, leads to an increase in Z. It has been found out that relatively high values of Z in SmxPb1−xTe solid solutions as compared to PbTe are mainly due to scattering of phonons and holes on defects as well as due to an increase in an effective mass in them during substitution of lead by samarium.