Electrical and Thermoelectric Properties of p-Ag2Te in the β Phase

The conductivity sigma, Hall coefficient R, and thermoelectric power alpha(0) of p-Ag2Te were studied in the temperature range of 300-550 K. Inconsistency between the signs of R and alpha(0) was observed at 420-550 K. These results are interpreted within the two-phase model with spherical constant energy surfaces. It is established that the inconsistency between the R and alpha(0) signs is due to the emergence of the scattering mechanisms with the parameters r(0ac), r(00), and r(0d) an increase of about 50% in the ratio of the effective electron and hole masses as a result of the transition alpha --> beta. (C) 2003 MAIK "Nauka / Interperiodica".