Thermoelectric properties of Ag-doped CuS nanocomposites synthesized by a facile polyol method

We report the first thermoelectric properties of Cu_1-xAg_xS, x = 0-0.75 nanocomposites, synthesized by using a facile polyol method. Systematic characterizations using powder XRD, Rietveld refinement of XRD, EDAX, XPS and Raman spectroscopy confirmed their single phase, hexagonal crystal structure with the space group P6₃/mmc, nominal elemental composition, valence states of the constituent elements and stoichiometric nature. The TEM images showing the CuS formation of nearly perfect hexagonal disk-like particles of average thickness 26.7 nm and breadth ranging in a few hundreds of nanometers with nanorods stacked from these hexagonal nanodisks (NDs) elongated along the c axis corroborate the FESEM images. Attributed to structural phase transition, an anomaly at 55 K is clearly observed in both the thermopower and Hall resistivity data. By increasing x, a systematic reduction in thermal conductivity was observed near 300 K. Consequently, a 50% enhancement in figure of merit was observed for Cu_0.9Ag_0.1S as compared to pure CuS at 300 K. These results therefore are expected to provide a new direction in improving ZT near 300 K.