Investigation of Ball Size Effect on Microstructure and Thermoelectric Properties of <italic>p</italic>-type BiSbTe by Mechanical Alloying

Abstract

<p><italic>P</italic>-type ternary Bi<sub>0.5</sub>Sb<sub>1.5</sub>Te<sub>3</sub> alloys are fabricated via mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). Different ball sizes are used in the MA process, and their effect on the microstructure; hardness, and thermoelectric properties of the <italic>p</italic>-type BiSbTe alloys are investigated. The phases of milled powders and bulks are identified using an X-ray diffraction technique. The morphology of milled powders and fracture surface of compacted samples are examined using scanning electron microscopy. The morphology, phase, and grain structures of the samples are not altered by the use of different ball sizes in the MA process. Measurements of the thermoelectric (TE) transport properties including the electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and power factor are measured at temperatures of 300- 400 K for samples treated by SPS. The TE properties do not depend on the ball size used in the MA process.</p>