Comparative study on properties of n-PbS bulk thermoelectric materials prepared by chemical method

In this study, PbS materials with distinct morphologies, structures, and particle sizes were synthesized via different chemical methods for comparative investigation of their thermoelectric properties. The crystal structures and morphologies of the materials were characterized by XRD, SEM, and TEM techniques. The results confirmed the successful fabrication of PbS materials with different morphologies, including dendritic, cubic, and nanocrystalline structure, while maintaining consistent crystal structures. After hot pressing, the dendritic and cubic PbS structures maintained their original morphologies, whereas the nanocrystalline PbS material underwent grain agglomeration and growth, resulting in an increase in particle size. Among them, the dendritic PbS exhibited the most favorable thermoelectric performance, achieving a zT value of 0.34 at 773 K, which is comparable to that of PbS prepared by melting and sintering method in the literature. This study highlights the superior thermoelectric properties of dendritic PbS materials prepared using a facile and environmentally friendly chemical approach, offering valuable insights for future research in this field.