Improved p-type thermoelectric materials, a process for their manufacture and uses thereof

摘要

A thermoelectric material of the p-type having the stoichiometric formula Zn 4 Sb 3, wherein part of the Zn atoms optionally being substituted by one or more elements selected from the group comprising Sn, Mg, Pb and the transition metals in a total amount of 20 or less in relation to the Zn atoms is provided by a process involving zone-melting of an arrangement comprising an interphase between a "stoichiometric" material having the desired composition and a "non-stoichiometric" material having a composition deviating from the desired composition. The thermoelectric materials obtained exhibit excellent figure of merits.