Abstract: | Composite Bi2Te3/SiO2 nanoparticles of the core-shell type have been synthesized for the first time with a view to creating bulk composites possessing high thermoelectric figure of merit (conversion efficiency). It is suggested that bulk composited based on Bi2Te3/SiO2 nanoparticles will provide a combination of low lattice heat conduction due to SiO2 insulator and rather high electric conduction due to charge-carrier tunneling via dielectric spacers between adjacent Bi2Te3 semiconductor grains. The electric resistance of the composite increases with increasing temperature in the range of 130–300 K. This temperature dependence can be described in terms of a tunneling conduction model. |