Raising n-Type Thermoelectric Performance in (Te, Zn)-Codoped CuAgSe

We have successfully fabricated undoped and (Te, Zn)-codoped n-type CuAgSe polycrystals. For doping studies, we kept 5% Te over Se and changed from 0 to 10% Zn over Cu. (Te, Zn) codoping on CuAgSe reduces the lattice thermal conductivity to about 0.3 W m–1 K–1 at 673 K and increases the electrical conductivity. In particular, a ZT value of 0.91 was achieved at 623 K, which is the highest ZT value in n-type CuAgSe. Our results thus indicate that Te and Zn codoping is a potential way to improve the thermoelectric performance of n-type CuAgSe.