In this work, p-type Bi−Sb−Te alloys powders are prepared using gas atomization, a mass production powder preparation method involving rapid solidification. To study the effect of the sintering temperature on the microstructure and thermoelectric properties, gas-atomized powders are consolidated at different temperatures (623, 703, and 743 K) using spark plasma sintering. The crystal structures of the gas-atomized powders and sintered bulks are identified using an X-ray diffraction technique. Texture analysis by electron backscatter diffraction reveals that the grains are randomly oriented in the entire matrix, and no preferred orientation in any unique direction is observed. The hardness values decrease with increasing sintering temperature owing to a decrease in grain size. The conductivity increases gradually with increasing sintering temperature, whereas the Seebeck coefficient decreases owing to increases in the carrier mobility with grain size. The lowest thermal conductivity is obtained for the bulk sintered at a low temperature (603 K), mainly because of its fine-grained microstructure. A peak ZT of 1.06 is achieved for the sample sintered at 703 K owing to its moderate electrical conductivity and sustainable thermal conductivity.

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• Influence of the SPS heating rate on the optical and mechanical properties of Y2O3-MgO nanocomposites
  Seok-Min Yong
  Journal of Ceramic Processing Research.2019; 20(1): 59.     CrossRef

Graphene oxide (GO) powder processed by Hummer's method is mixed with p-type Bi₂Te₃ based thermoelectric materials by a high-energy ball milling process. The synthesized GO-dispersed p-type Bi₂Te₃ composite powder has a composition of Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃ (BSbT), and the powder is consolidated into composites with different contents of GO powder by using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. It is found that the addition of GO powder significantly decreases the thermal conductivity of the pure BSbT material through active phonon scattering at the newly formed interfaces. In addition, the electrical properties of the GO/BSbT composites are degraded by the addition of GO powder except in the case of the 0.1 wt% GO/BSbT composite. It is found that defects on the surface of GO powder hinder the electrical transport properties. As a result, the maximum thermoelectric performance (ZT value of 0.91) is achieved from the 0.1% GO/BSbT composite at 398 K. These results indicate that introducing GO powder into thermoelectric materials is a promising method to achieve enhanced thermoelectric performance due to the reduction in thermal conductivity.

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• Exploring Thermoelectric Transport Properties and Band Parameters of n-Type Bi2-xSbxTe3 Compounds Using the Single Parabolic Band Model
  Linh Ba Vu, Soo-ho Jung, Jinhee Bae, Jong Min Park, Kyung Tae Kim, Injoon Son, Seungki Jo
  journal of Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute.2024; 31(2): 119.     CrossRef
• Nanocomposite Strategy toward Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance in Bismuth Telluride
  Hua‐Lu Zhuang, Jincheng Yu, Jing‐Feng Li
  Small Science.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Enhancing Electrical Properties of N-type Bismuth Telluride Alloys through Graphene Oxide Incorporation in Extrusion 3D Printing
  Jinhee Bae, Seungki Jo, Kyung Tae Kim
  journal of Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute.2023; 30(4): 318.     CrossRef
• Advancement of thermoelectric performances through the dispersion of expanded graphene on p-type BiSbTe alloys
  Eun-Ha Go, Rathinam Vasudevan, Babu Madavali, Peyala Dharmaiah, Min-Woo Shin, Sung Ho Song, Soon-Jik Hong
  Powder Metallurgy.2023; 66(5): 722.     CrossRef
• The role of edge-oxidized graphene to improve the thermopower of p-type bismuth telluride-based thick films
  Young Min Cho, Kyung Tae Kim, Gi Seung Lee, Soo Hyung Kim
  Applied Surface Science.2019; 476: 533.     CrossRef
• The Preparation and Growth Mechanism of the Recovered Bi2Te3 Particles with Respect to Surfactants
  Hyeongsub So, Eunpil Song, Yong-Ho Choa, Kun-Jae Lee
  Journal of Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute.2017; 24(2): 141.     CrossRef

The recent rise in applications of thermoelectric materials has attracted interest in studies toward the fabrication of thermoelectric materials using mass production techniques. In this study, we successfully fabricate n-type Bi₂Te_2.7Se_0.3 material by a combination of mass production powder metallurgy techniques, gas atomization, and spark plasma sintering. In addition, to examine the effects of hydrogen reduction in the microstructure, the thermoelectric and mechanical properties are measured and analyzed. Here, almost 60% of the oxygen content of the powder are eliminated after hydrogen reduction for 4 h at 360°C. Micrographs of the powder show that the reduced powder had a comparatively clean surface and larger grain sizes than unreduced powder. The density of the consolidated bulk using as-atomized powder and reduced atomized powder exceeds 99%. The thermoelectric power factor of the sample prepared by reduction of powder is 20% better than that of the sample prepared using unreduced powder.

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• Tuning of power factor in bismuth selenide through Sn/Te co doping for low temperature thermoelectric applications
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  Applied Physics A.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Enhancing thermoelectric performance of K-doped polycrystalline SnSe through band engineering tuning and hydrogen reduction
  Nan Xin, Yifei Li, Guihua Tang, Longyun Shen
  Journal of Alloys and Compounds.2022; 899: 163358.     CrossRef
• The effect of powder pre-treatment on the mechanical and thermoelectric properties of spark plasma sintered N-type bismuth telluride
  Ahmed A. Abdelnabi, Vickram Lakhian, Joseph R. McDermid, James S. Cotton
  Journal of Alloys and Compounds.2021; 874: 159782.     CrossRef
• Investigation of Spark Plasma Sintering Temperature on Microstructure and Thermoelectric Properties of p-type Bi-Sb-Te alloys
  Jin-Koo Han, Dong-won Shin, Babu Madavali, Soon-Jik Hong
  Journal of Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute.2017; 24(2): 115.     CrossRef
• The Preparation and Growth Mechanism of the Recovered Bi2Te3 Particles with Respect to Surfactants
  Hyeongsub So, Eunpil Song, Yong-Ho Choa, Kun-Jae Lee
  Journal of Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute.2017; 24(2): 141.     CrossRef
• Enhanced thermoelectric cooling properties of Bi2Te3−xSex alloys fabricated by combining casting, milling and spark plasma sintering
  Seung Tek Han, Pradip Rimal, Chul Hee Lee, Hyo-Seob Kim, Yongho Sohn, Soon-Jik Hong
  Intermetallics.2016; 78: 42.     CrossRef

P-type ternary Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃ alloys are fabricated via mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). Different ball sizes are used in the MA process, and their effect on the microstructure; hardness, and thermoelectric properties of the p-type BiSbTe alloys are investigated. The phases of milled powders and bulks are identified using an X-ray diffraction technique. The morphology of milled powders and fracture surface of compacted samples are examined using scanning electron microscopy. The morphology, phase, and grain structures of the samples are not altered by the use of different ball sizes in the MA process. Measurements of the thermoelectric (TE) transport properties including the electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and power factor are measured at temperatures of 300- 400 K for samples treated by SPS. The TE properties do not depend on the ball size used in the MA process.

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• Investigation of Spark Plasma Sintering Temperature on Microstructure and Thermoelectric Properties of p-type Bi-Sb-Te alloys
  Jin-Koo Han, Dong-won Shin, Babu Madavali, Soon-Jik Hong
  Journal of Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute.2017; 24(2): 115.     CrossRef
• Flexible Thermoelectric Device Using Thick Films for Energy Harvesting from the Human Body
  Han Ki Cho, Da Hye Kim, Hye Sun Sin, Churl-Hee Cho, Seungwoo Han
  Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society.2017; 54(6): 518.     CrossRef
• Investigation of the Microstructure and Thermoelectric Properties of P-Type BiSbTe Alloys by Usage of Different Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) During Mechanical Milling
  S.-M. Yoon, B. Madavali, Y.-N. Yoon, S.-J. Hong
  Archives of Metallurgy and Materials.2017; 62(2): 1167.     CrossRef
• Mechanical and thermoelectric properties of Bi2−xSbxTe3 prepared by using encapsulated melting and hot pressing
  Woo-Jin Jung, Il-Ho Kim
  Journal of the Korean Physical Society.2016; 69(8): 1328.     CrossRef