Abstract

The p-type thermoelectric compounds of Bi_2Te_3 based doped with 3wt% Te were fabricated by a combination of rapid solidification and spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. The effect of holding time during spark plasma sintering (SPS) on the microstructure and thermoelectric properties were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermoelectric properties. The powders as solidified consisted of homogeneous thermoelectric phases. The thermoelectric figure of merit measured to be maximum (3.41times10-3/K) at the SPS temperature of 430°C.

• Keywords: Bi_2Te_3;Thermoelectric properties;Gas atomization;Spark plasma sintering (SPS);