Properties of half-Heusler compounds TaIrGe by using first-principles calculations

The electronic structures, optical and thermoelectric properties of ternary half-Heusler compound TaIrGe were investigated by using the first-principles and Boltzmann transport theory. Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) removed the degeneracy of VBM, and then decreased the Seebeck coefficients and power factor. From the compressive to tensile strain, the band gap gradually increases from 0.96 to 1.11 eV, accompanied by the absorption coefficient peak red-shift. The effective mass (mDOS∗\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$m^{*}_\mathrm{DOS}$$\end{document}) of VBM and CBM gradually increases from the compressive to tensile strain, which enhances the Seebeck coefficient and power factor. Our results indicate that the electronic structures, optical and thermoelectric properties of TaIrGe can be effectively tuned by the strain and TaIrGe can be used as an important photoelectric and thermoelectric material in the future.