Determining the influence of nanoscale decompositions in thermoelectric materials by 3D-XRDCT by fully analysing the PXRD

Hetero structured materials like Pb18AgSbTe20 exceeds a thermoelectric figure of merit of 2 due to scattering phonons at grain boundaries and associated effects. We decomposed homogeneous quenched PbAgSbTe3 to different amounts of PbTe and AgSbTe3 to understand the effects and influence of the nanoscaled spiondal decompositions on the thermoelectric material. In-situ 3D-XRDCT will show the various impacts on Seebeck coefficient, thermal and electrical conductivity of microstructures of different decomposed PbAgSbTe3. The scans will be done while the material is under working condition in a temperature gradient or under applied current to understand the effects of the segregation on properties. In addition, space resolved PXRD will give information about state of decomposition and the reflection shapes about the grain sizes.