Coexistence of quantum diffusive and diffusive two band carriers in site disordered AgSnSbTe3

Abstract

Electronic transport in materials has always been enigmatic due to the interplay between disorder and electronic correlation of varying degrees. Tuning of disorder/order of atoms in crystalline rock-salt tellurides and associated charge carrier localization/delocalization have significant impact on its thermoelectric properties. In the weak limit of disorder and charge carrier interactions, associated phenomena contribute as a correction to the conventional classical electrical conductivity which is usually observed in two-dimensional (2D) thin films but is rare in bulk three-dimensional (3D) materials. Here, we report the experimental observation of coexisting disorder enhanced electron-electron interaction (diffusive) along with the weak anti-localization (quantum diffusive) corrections to the two band classical theory of electronic transport in the 3D site disordered AgSnSbTe3. Our analysis of low temperature magneto-transport investigations along with the theoretical modelling provide the evidence of the involvement of only one type of carriers in the interaction (diffusive), while both carrier types are participating in the weak anti-localization (quantum diffusive) phenomena. Thus, this study demonstrates the fascinating multi-carrier type electronic transport with the coexistence of quantum diffusive and diffusive corrections to the classical conductivity, which should help in designing high performance material for various applications such as thermoelectrics.