Thermoelectric properties of p-type (Bi,Sb)2Te3 alloys fabricated by the hot pressing method

P-type (Bi_0.25Sb_0.75)₂Te₃ powders were fabricated by melting/grinding and mechanical alloying processes. Thermoelectric properties of the hot-pressed (Bi_0.25Sb_0.75)₂Te₃ were characterized with the powder processing method, powder size, hot pressing temperature, and the amount of excess-Te dopant. Specimens fabricated by melting/grinding exhibited lower Seebeck coefficient, lower electrical resistivity and higher thermal conductivity, compared to the specimens prepared by mechanical alloying. 3 wt.% excess Te-doped (Bi_0.25Sb_0.75)₂ Te₃, fabricated by melting/grinding and hot pressing at 550°C, exhibited a figure-merit of 3.2 x 10^-3/K. For 1 wt.% excess Te-doped specimen prepared by mechanical alloying and hot pressing at 550°C, a figure-merit of 3.05 x 10^-3/K was obtained.