Semiconducting nature and thermal transport studies of ZrTe3

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2019-05, Vol.785, p.603-609
• Main Authors: Hooda, M.K., Tripathi, T.S., Yadav, C.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Charge density waves; Current carriers; Electrical resistivity; Electrical transport; Electronic properties; Heat conductivity; Heat transfer; Phonons; Polycrystals; Seebeck effect; Thermal conductivity; Transition metal alloys and compounds; Transport properties
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.01.136

We report electrical and thermal transport properties of polycrystalline ZrTe3. The polycrystalline sample shows semiconducting behavior in contrast to the established semi-metallic character of the compound. However the charge density wave (CDW) transition remains intact and its clear signatures are observed in thermal conductivity and Seebeck coefficient, in the wide temperature range 50–100 K. The thermal conductivity points to additional scattering from the low frequency phonons (phonon softening) in the vicinity of CDW transition. The transport in the polycrystalline compounds is governed by smaller size polarons in the variable range hopping (VRH) region. However, the increasing disorder in polycrystalline compounds suppresses the CDW transition. The VRH behavior is also observed in the Seebeck coefficient data in the similar temperature range. The Seebeck coefficient suggests a competition between the charge carriers (electrons and holes). •The polycrystalline ZrTe3 prepared at low T show localization of charge carriers.•The ρ(T) and S(T) data show variable range hopping and formation of small polarons.•The CDW observed in T range 50–100 K is quenched with disorder.•The κ(T) shows fluctuations near the CDW transition and lattice entropy dominance.•The electrons and holes compete with each other near the CDW transition.