Anisotropic thermoelectric properties of the layered compounds PbSb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>4</Subscript> and PbBi<Subscript>4</Subscript>Te<Subscript>7</Subscript>

Single crystals of the ternary layered compounds PbSb₂Te₄ (p-type) and PbBi₄Te₇ (n-type) have been grown by Czochralski pulling with melt supply through a floating crucible. The in-plane and out-of-plane thermoelectric power, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity of the PbSb₂Te₄ and PbBi₄Te₇ crystals and related alloys have been measured in the temperature range 85–340 K. The results attest to a significant thermoelectric anisotropy in the crystals, especially in the p-type material PbSb₂Te₄.