Rational design of p-type thermoelectric PbTe: Temperature dependent sodium solubility

We develop a solid understanding of the termperature-dependent solubility of sodium p-type PbTe, the most efficient thermoelectric material. The maximum solubility of socium telluride (NaTe) in PbTe is measured to be 1.4+0.3 at percent and the heat of solution is evaluated and that addresses fundamental issues regarding the formation of nano-precipitates.