Thermoelectric properties of CuAl Ch < inf > 2 < /inf > (Ch = S, Se and Te)

Abstract

Electronic and thermoelectric properties of ternary chalcopyrite-type CuAlCh 2 (S, Se and Te) were studied using the first principles density functional calculations implemented in the full potential linear augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. The thermoelectric properties are calculated by solving the Boltzmann transport equation within the constant relaxation time approximation. The calculated band gap using the Tran-Blaha modified Becke-Johnson potential (TB-mBJ), of all the compounds are in good agreement with the available experiment and other theoretical reports. Thermoelectric properties like thermopower, electrical conductivity scaled by relaxation time are calculated as a function of carrier concentrations at different temperatures. The calculated thermoelectric properties are compared with the available experiment and other theoretical calculations of similar materials.