Thermoelectric properties of layered NaSbSe2

J Phys Condens Matter. 2018 Jun 6;30(22):225501. doi: 10.1088/1361-648X/aabf5b. Epub 2018 Apr 19.

Abstract

We investigate ordered monoclinic NaSbSe2 as a thermoelectric using first principles calculations. We find that from an electronic point of view, ordered and oriented n-type NaSbSe2 is comparable to the best known thermoelectric materials. This phase has a sufficiently large band gap for thermoelectric and solar absorber applications in contrast to the disordered phase which has a much narrower gap. The electronic structure shows anisotropic, non-parabolic bands. The results show a high Seebeck coefficient in addition to direction dependent high conductivity. The electronic structure quantified by an electron fitness function is very favorable, especially in the n-type case.