Abstract
Pb1-xSmxSe (x = 0.03, 0.06 and 0.09) compounds are synthesized by solid-state reaction. The x-ray diffraction technique, scanning electron microscope, electrical and thermoelectric power measurements were used to characterize the prepared samples. The samples are sintered at 488 K and the effect of the sintering time on the transport properties was investigated. The metal - insulator transition occurrence depends on both the Sm content and the sintering time. The energy band gap E-g was calculated for the sintered samples of 0.06 Sm composition in the intrinsic region. The Seebeck coefficient measurements show that all the samples under investigation are n-type semiconductor materials with electron carrier predomination at low temperature and hole conduction contribution at high temperature. The power factor S-2 sigma was calculated and gave a good indication of the wide application of the investigated compositions as thermoelectric materials.