Thermoelectric characteristics of the (Bi,Sb)(2)(Te,Se)(3) nanocomposites processed with nanoparticle dispersion

Abstract

The p-type (Bi0.2Sb0.8)(2)Te-3 and the n-type Bi-2(Te0.9Se0.1)(3) thermoelectric nanocomposites were processed with dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and Al2O3 nanopowders. The lattice thermal conductivity kappa(ph) of the p-type (Bi,Sb)(2)Te-3 was effectively reduced from 0.64 W/m K to 0.45-0.54 W/m K by dispersion of carbon nanotubes. The room-temperature figure-of-merit of the p-type (Bi,Sb)(2)Te-3 was improved from 3.37 x 10(-4)/K to 3.52 x 10(-4)/K with dispersion of 0.05 vol.% carbon nanotubes. The figure-of-merit of the n-type Bi-2(Te,Se)(3) at 75 degrees C was substantially improved from 2.9 x 10(-4)/K to 3.5 x 10(-4)/K with dispersion of 0.5 vol.% Al2O3 nanopowders. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.