Thermoelectric Performance of Micro/Nano-Structured Bismuth-Antimony-Telluride Bulk from Low Cost Mechanical Alloying

Z. Li, G. L. Zhao, P. Zhang, S. Guo, J. Tang

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA.
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA.
Department of Physics, Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/msa.2012.312121                

Abstract

In this work, micro/nano-structured Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃bulk thermoelectric materials were synthesized by mechanical alloying from elemental shots of Bi, Sb, and Te. Cold pressing and subsequent heat treatments with hydrogen reduction were used to form bulk solid samples with good thermoelectric properties in the temperature range around 75℃to 100℃. In comparison to crystal growth methods and chemical solution synthesis, the reported technique can be readily implemented for mass production with relatively low cost.

Keywords

Thermoelectric; Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃; Mechanical Alloying; Hydrogen Reduction

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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