Abstract
Various solid-state synthesis techniques have been used in order to produce high-efficiency ε-Zn 4Sb 3 bulk specimens. The techniques used were: sintering of cold compacts followed by hot pressing; direct synthesis by hot pressing; and sinter-forging. The phase transformations in this alloy system during solid-state syntheses were systematically investigated using DSC, XRD and SEM. Single-phase Zn 4Sb 3 powders and crack-free bulk specimens having high density were successfully synthesized, but excess Zn was found to be necessary to compensate for Zn loss during processing. The thermoelectric properties at room temperature were evaluated for the hot consolidated compacts and compared with the published results of other studies. The thermoelectric properties of single-phase Zn 4Sb 3 materials showed reasonable values. Solid-state synthesis utilizing the hot consolidation process offers potential processing routes to produce bulk Zn 4Sb 3.
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