Patent ID: 6013204
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: C01B,C01P,H01M

Abstract:
A chalcogenide compound of the formulaA.sub.x M.sub.y Q.sub.zwherein A is selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs and combinations thereof; M is selected from the group consisting of Bi and combinations of Bi and Sb; and Q is selected from the group consisting of Te, Se, and combinations thereof wherein 1.gtoreq.x.gtoreq.6; 1.gtoreq.y.gtoreq.20; and 2.gtoreq.z.gtoreq.40, wherein the Q is negatively charged and charge balanced by M and A which are positively charged; wherein the chalcogenide has an energy band gaps in the range of 0.01 eV<Eg<1.2 eV, wherein eV is electron-volts and Eg is the energy gap, a thermoelectric power S>.+-.50 .mu.V/K, where V is volts and K is degrees Kelvin, electrical conductivity .sigma.>100 S/cm, where S is siemens and cm is centimeters and a thermal conductivity .kappa.<3.0 W/mK, where W is watts, m is meters and K is degrees Kelvin, particularly excluding .alpha.-K.sub.2 Bi.sub.8 Se.sub.13, Cs.sub.3 Bi.sub.7 Se.sub.12, RbBiSe.sub.2, K.sub.3 BiTe.sub.3, Rb.sub.3 BiSe.sub.3, Cs.sub.3 BiSe.sub.3 and K.sub.3 BiSe.sub.3.