Thermoelectric and thermomechanical properties of the hot pressed polycrystalline Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 alloys

The polycrystalline pseudo-binary Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃ alloys have been prepared by hot pressing. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that there is no noticeable preferred orientation in all the samples. Thermoelectric properties were measured and a relatively high ZT value of ∼0.9 was obtained at room temperature. Thermal mechanical properties were characterized by dilatometer and dynamic-mechanical thermal analyzer. The thermodynamic stability of these alloys could be kept from room temperature to 500 K. It is suggested that Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃ alloys are suitable for the applications below 500 K.