Patent ID: 8299349

Claim:
A thermoelectric material comprising a chalcogenide compound represented by the following formula: (A 1-a A′ a ) 4-x (B 1-b B′ b ) 3-y wherein A is a Group XIII element, and A′ is at least one selected from a group consisting of a Group XIII element, a Group XIV element, a rare earth element, a transition metal, and combinations thereof, wherein A and A′ are different from each other; wherein B is at least one selected from a group consisting of S, Se, Te and combinations thereof, and B′ is at least one selected from a group consisting of elements of Groups XIV, XV, XVI and combinations thereof, wherein B and B′ are different from each other; wherein a is larger than 0 and less than 1; wherein b is equal to or larger than 0 and less than 1; wherein x is between −1 and 1; and wherein y is between −1 and 1.