Dawod Muhamed, Ph.D. Candidate

B. Sc. 2019, Materials Science and Physics (Technion)

De-Jur bldg. room 510
Tel: +972-77-8875827
smdavid@campus.technion.ac.il

Research:
Lead-telluride (PbTe) is one of the leading thermoelectric materials, which has attracted much attention in recent decades, mostly due to its ability and efficiency of converting heat into electric power in midrange temperatures. A common way to improve its thermoelectric properties is alloying it with selected elements above their solubility limits. This process initiates formation of second-phase precipitates, which reduce lattice thermal conductivity due to phonon scattering, thereby increasing its energy conversion efficiency. In addition, PbTe-based compounds hold many advantages; for instance, narrow band-gap semiconductors, high melting point, and good structural and chemical stability.

The primary goal of this research is investigating the diffusion coefficients of selected tracer elements in PbTe that are important for thermoelectric performance by depositing thin layers on PbTe-surfaces, performing diffusion heat treatments, and measuring their concentration profiles. Finally, this information will be correlated with thermoelectric properties of nanostructured PbTe. These data will help us determine the rate of microstructure evolution of Pb-Te-X compounds and their thermal stability under service conditions.