Thermal properties of some compositions in the chalcogenide system Sb 40 Te 60-x Se x

The thermal diffusivities, specific heats and thermal conductivities of the binary compositions Sb₄₀Te₆₀ and Sb₄₀Se₆₀ and the ternary composition Sb₄₀Te₃₀Se₃₀ were measured in the range ∼320 to 500 K. It was found that the environmental temperature, the content of Se in the composition and the conditions of measurements are decisive factors greatly influencing both the values and the behaviour ot the thermal parameters, and the mechanisms of thermal transport. Although the tested compositions exhibit semiconducting behaviour, the free charge carrier component of the thermal conductivity was so small as to be negligible. Thus, it could be concluded that the observed thermal conductivity is attributable to both photon and phonon mechanisms.