Effect of Ga2O3 Nanoparticles Dispersion on Microstructure and Thermoelectric Properties of p-Type BiSbTe Based Alloys

Abstract

In this study, p-type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 based nanocomposites with addition of different weight percentages of Ga2O3 nanoparticles are fabricated by mechanical milling and spark plasma sintering. The fracture surfaces of all Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 nanocomposites exhibited similar grain distribution on the entire fracture surface. The Vickers hardness is improved for the Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 nanocomposites with 6 wt% added Ga2O3 due to exhibiting fine microstructure, and dispersion strengthening mechanism. The Seebeck coefficient of Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 nanocomposites are significantly improved owing to the decrease in carrier concentration. The electrical conductivity is decreased rapidly upon the addition of Ga2O3 nanoparticle due to increasing carrier scattering at newly formed interfaces. The peak power factor of 3.24 W/mK2 is achieved for the base Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 sintered bulk. The Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 nanocomposites show low power factor than base sample due to low electrical conductivity.

Keywords

• Thermoelectric properties
• Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 alloys
• Seebeck coefficient
• Mechanical alloying
• Spark plasma sintering