High-performance GeTe thermoelectrics in both rhombohedral and cubic phases

Abstract

GeTe experiences phase transition between cubic and rhombohedral through distortion along the [111] direction. Cubic GeTe shares the similarity of a two-valence-band structure (high-energy L and low-energy Σ bands) with other cubic IV–VI semiconductors such as PbTe, SnTe, and PbSe, and all show a high thermoelectric performance due to a high band degeneracy. Very recently, the two valence bands were found to switch in energy in rhombohedral GeTe and to be split due to symmetry-breaking of the crystal structure. This enables the overall band degeneracy to be manipulated either by the control of symmetry-induced degeneracy or by the design of energy-aligned orbital degeneracy. Here, we show Sb-doping for optimizing carrier concentration and manipulating the degree of rhombohedral lattice distortion to maximize the band degeneracy and then electronic performance. In addition, Sb-doping significantly promotes the solubility of PbTe, enhancing the scattering of phonons by Ge/Pb substitutional defects for minimizing the lattice thermal conductivity. This successfully realizes a superior thermoelectric figure of merit, zT of >2 in both rhombohedral and cubic GeTe, demonstrating these alloys as top candidates for thermoelectric applications at T < 800 K. This work further sheds light on the importance of crystal structure symmetry manipulation for advancing thermoelectrics.