The quaternary diamond-like compounds, A₂Cu₃In₃Te₈ (A = Cd, Zn, Mn, Mg), are a new class of thermoelectric materials recently proposed by complex structure design. Among them, the Zn₂Cu₃In₃Te₈ compound possesses reasonable electrical transport properties but relatively high lattice thermal conductivity. Herein, the effects of Ag substitution on the phase stability and thermoelectric properties of Zn₂Cu₃In₃Te₈ compound are reported. It is revealed that only the In sites show an appreciable tolerance for Ag doping. Ag substitution at the In sites introduces extra holes and thus results in improved electrical transport properties. Furthermore, the introducing of Ag lowers the sound velocities and enhances the phonon scattering of the Zn₂Cu₃In₃Te₈ compound, which leads to a substantially reduction in lattice thermal conductivity. Finally, in virtue of the optimization in both electrical and thermal transport properties, the maximal zT value of Zn₂Cu₃In_2.8Ag_0.2Te₈ sample reaches 0.62 at 823 K, which is 43% higher than the pristine sample.

季状类金刚石化合物A ₂ Cu ₃ In ₃ Te ₈（A  = Cd，Zn，Mn，Mg）是最近通过复杂结构设计提出的新型热电材料。其中，Zn ₂ Cu ₃ In ₃ Te ₈化合物具有合理的电传输性能，但具有较高的晶格导热率。本文中，Ag取代对Zn ₂ Cu ₃ In ₃ Te ₈的相稳定性和热电性能的影响化合物的报道。据揭示，只有In位点显示出对Ag掺杂的相当大的耐受性。In位点处的Ag取代引入额外的空穴，因此导致改善的电传输性能。此外，Ag的引入降低了声速并增强了Zn ₂ Cu ₃ In ₃ Te ₈化合物的声子散射，这导致晶格热导率大大降低。最后，由于在电学和热学传输性能方面的优化，Zn ₂ Cu ₃ In _2.8 Ag _0.2 Te ₈的最大zT值 样品在823 K时达到0.62，比原始样品高43％。