Synthesis of lead telluride particles by thermal decomposition method for thermoelectric applications

The lead telluride fine crystalline particles were synthesized using thermal decomposition and chemical interaction of lead acetate and tellurium powder mixture in reducing atmosphere (H2). For the process control, thermal gravimetry (TG), the different-scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electronic microscopy (SEM) and measurements of the specific surface of particles were used. Additionally the influence of gas phases on the decomposition kinetics, crystal structure, size, specific surface of the particles and the physical properties were analyzed. Seebeck coefficient values increased with decreasing synthesis temperature and increasing specific surfaces of the powder. The presented method of preparing lead telluride polydisperse particles is developed to create nano-structured thermoelectric materials with high figure of merit.