Thermoelectric figure of merit of n-Hg_1-xCd_xSe

The Seebeck coefficient and conductivity of Hg_1-xCd _xSe is calculated for 0<x<0.5, at temperatures below 400 K, and donor concentration between 10¹⁶ and 10¹⁸ cm ^-3. These transport coefficients are obtained by solving the Boltzman equation including carriers scattering with optical and acoustic phonons, ionized impurities, and alloy potential. The thermoelectric figure of merit is calculated using these coefficients and measured values of the thermal conductivity. In spite of the very low thermal conductivity of this material (≊10 mW/cm K) the thermoelectric figure of merit times temperature is lower than 0.3 at 300 K, and decreases monotonically with decreasing temperature.