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Predicted thermoelectric properties of olivine-type Fe2GeCh4 (Ch = S, Se and Te)

We present here the thermoelectric properties of olivine-type Fe2GeCh4 (Ch = S, Se and Te) using the linear augmented plane wave method based on first principles density functional calculations. The calculated transport properties using the semi-local Boltzmann transport equation reveal very high thermopower for both S and Se-based compounds compared to their Te counterparts. The main reason for this high thermopower is the quasi-flat nature of the bands at the valence and conduction band edges. The calculated thermopower of Fe2GeCh4 is in good agreement with the experimental reports at room temperature, with the carrier concentration around 1018-1019cm-3. All the investigated systems show an anisotropic nature in their electrical conductivity, resulting in a value less than the order of 102 along the a-axis compared to the b- and c-axes. Among the studied compounds, Fe2GeS4 and Fe2GeSe4 emerge as promising candidates with good thermoelectric performance.