HIGH-PERFORMANCE THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS: 11% EFFICIENCY AND 5.2 W/CM² POWER DENSITY IN OPTIMALLY CHLORINE-DOPED PBTE-BASED THERMOELECTRICS

Thermoelectric materials facilitate the transformation of waste heat directly into electrical energy, offering significant potential for sustainable energy applications. This study investigates optimal chlorine doping in (PbTe0.93₋xSe0.07Clx)0.93PbS0.07 thermoelectric materials across varying concentrations (x = 0.0005 to 0.2) to maximize energy conversion efficiency and power density. Results demonstrate that ultra-low chlorine doping (x = 0.0005) achieves optimal performance by significantly enhancing charge carrier density while maintaining favorable electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient balance. The composition (PbTe0.93₋xSe0.07Clx)0.93PbS0.07 delivers exceptional thermoelectric performance with energy conversion efficiency exceeding 12% and power density surpassing 6 W/cm² at a 500 K temperature gradient. These findings establish precise low-level chlorine doping as a critical strategy for creating advanced thermoelectric materials applicable to industrial waste heat recovery and sustainable energy applications. The research contributes to advancing clean energy technologies by enabling more efficient utilization of otherwise wasted thermal energy, supporting global sustainability goals through improved energy conversion systems.