Synthesis of N-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 Compounds through Oxide-Reduction Process and Related Thermoelectric Transport Properties

We present a study on the synthesis of Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 powders through an oxide reduction process and also on the effect of the oxide reduction process on the thermoelectric transport properties of the resulting Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 compounds. Starting materials of Bi2O3, TeO2 and SeO2 were mechanical milled for homogeneous mixing, and then oxidized to prepare complex oxide powders. The complex oxide powders were reduced at different reduction temperatures under hydrogen atmosphere, and a single phase of Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 could be achieved in the reduced powder, with shorter reduction times as the reduction temperature was increased. The shape of the synthesized powder particles changed from granules to flakes with increasing reduction temperature and longer reduction time. Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 powders with different shapes were consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The SPSed Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 compounds exhibited anisotropic n-type thermoelectric transport properties along the vertical and parallel planes with respect to the pressing direction of the SPS. The degree of anisotropy in the thermoelectric properties was quite consistent with the degree of anisotropy in the microstructure, which originated from the anisotropic shapes in the Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 powders depending on the reduction conditions. Detailed thermoelectric transport properties of the n-type Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 compounds were interpreted in terms of anti-site defect formation and their structural anisotropy.