Abstract

A new process using rapid solidification (melt spinning method) followed by pressing and sintering was investigated to produce the n-type thermoelectric ribbons of 90% Bi_2Te_3+10% Bi_2Se_3 doped with CdCl_2. Quenched ribbons are very brittle and consisted of homogeneous Bi_2Te_3-Bi_2Se_3 pseudo-binary solid solutions. Property variations of the materials was investigated as a function of variables, such as dopant CdCl_2 quantity and sintering temperature. When the process parameters were optimized, the maximum figure of merit was 2.146times10-3K-1.