Carbon nanotubes and amorphous carbon have been introduced into a bismuth telluride matrix (0.15 and 0.30 wt.% ratio) to investigate the influence of the carbon on the composite’s thermoelectric properties. Composites with well-dispersed additives have been obtained by sonication and ball-milling methodology. Carbon nanotubes and an amorphous carbon addition led to a decrease in electric conductivity from 1120 S/cm to 77 S/cm....

The kinetics of a reduction of bismuth and tellurium oxides in a hydrogen atmosphere, leading to the formation of thermoelectric bismuth telluride is investigated. The evaluation of the reaction kinetics was based on a thermogravimetric analysis performed in non-isothermal conditions. A non-parametric analysis method and the Friedman method were used for the evaluation of the data. Additionally, for a better understanding of the...

The BieSbeTe alloys with different Bi/Sb/Te ratio were fabricated by an innovative method. For that purpose the oxide reagents were melted at high temperature, then quenched to form pellets, milled to a powder and finally reduced in hydrogen at various temperatures. Complex structures consisting of connected thin layers forming a continuous path between nano- and micrometer size grains have been obtained. The electrical conductivity,...

Cesium-bismuth-telluride polycrystalline materials were fabricated using a cost-effective method based on a reduction of oxide reagents, leading to a production of a material with good thermoelectric properties. Several samples with various initial stoichiometry were prepared by melting of oxide powders at 1050 °C, quenching, milling to powders and then reducing in pure hydrogen at 400 °C. Another concept was to obtain the CsBi4Te6...