Thermoelectric and electronic properties of AgSbSe$_{2}$*

Cubic I-II-VI$_{2}$ semiconductors have been studied widely for potential thermoelectric applications by several groups [1]. Recent investigations show minimal thermal conductivity for AgBiSe$_{2}$ and AgSbTe$_{2}$ resulting from intrinsic phonon scattering process due to strong anharmonicity in bonding [2]. AgSbSe$_{2 }$is structurally similar to chalcogenides and crystallizes in the cubic structure at ambient conditions [3]. The thermoelectric figure of merit, Seebeck co-efficient and thermal conductivity were measured as a function of temperature from 10 K to 350 K. We have also measured the conductivity type, Hall co-efficient and carrier concentration at ambient conditions. We compare our results with its ternary analogues. [1]. C. Wood et al., Prog. Phys. 51 (1988) 459 [2]. D.T. Morielli et al., Phys.Rev.Lett., 101 (2008) 035901 [3]. Ravhi S. Kumar et al., J.Alloys and Compds., 285 (1999) 48