THERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF CU-SN-S

X-ray diffraction patterns and thermoelectric properties were measured on Cu-Sn-S compacts with Cu:Sn:S = x:1:4 (x = 4 similar to 12) compos itions. The crystal structures of the compacts were Cu4SnS4 for x = 4, Cu2S + Cu1.81S for x = 6, Cu2S + Cu1.81S + Cu3Sn for x = 8, Cu2S + Cu 41Sn11 + Cu3Sn for x = 10, Cu2S + Cu41Sn11 for x = 12. A compact havin g the largest power factor and figure of merit was the one of x = 8. T he dimensionless figure of merit of this compact was evaluated to be 0 .4 similar to 0.6 at 300 similar to 370 K and 0.6 at 370 similar to 57 0 K. The Cu-Sn-S compact of x = 0.8 is prospective for thermoelectric energy conversion technology. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.