Bi<sub>2</sub>Te<sub>3</sub> and Bi<sub>2</sub>Te<sub>3</sub>/Nano-SiC Prepared by Mechanical Alloying and Spark Plasma Sintering

Abstract

Bi2Te3-based alloys are currently best-known, technological thermoelectric materials near room temperature. In this paper, Bi2Te3 and nano-SiC dispersed Bi2Te3 were prepared by mechanical alloying followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS). Raw powders of Bi, Te and SiC were mixed and mechanically alloyed in an argon atmosphere using a planetary ball mill. The SPS temperature was 623K, and the holding time was 5 minutes. The samples were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron Microscope (SEM). The thermoelectric properties: i.e. Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity were measured at temperatures from room temperature to 573K, followed by the evaluation of figure of merit. The results revealed that the SiC dispersion in the Bi2Te3 matrix increased Seebeck coefficient. Although the electrical resistivity was increased somewhat, the thermal conductivity was reduced by the SiC dispersion, indicating that promising thermoelectric materials with enhanced mechanical properties may be obtained in the nano-SiC dispersed Bi2Te3 composites with optimal compositions.