Patent ID: 7790137
Filing Date: 2010-09-07
Classification: B82Y,C01B,C01P,C04B

Abstract:
1. A process for synthesizing a metal telluride comprising: dissolving a metal precursor in a solvent containing a ligand to form a metal-ligand complex in a solution, said metal precursor containing a metal ion selected from the group consisting of: lead, tin and bismuth; and reacting said metal-ligand complex in said solution with a telluride source and forming metal telluride nanoparticles, wherein the metal telluride nanoparticles have a composition of where x is between 0 and 1 inclusive and y is between 0 and 1 inclusive with the proviso that x+y is less than or equal to 1; the nanoparticles having a mean linear dimension of from 2 to 40 nanometers, inclusive, and providing the metal telluride with improved thermoelectric properties.