Electric and mechanical performances of Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 prepared by spark plasma sintering

Thermoelectric (TE) materials are a kind of functional materials which can be used to convert directly heat energy to electricity or reversely. The thermoelectric effects hold great potential for application in power generation and refrigeration. Bi2Te3 and its alloys are well known as best TE materials currently available near room temperature. This paper studies respectively the effects of spark plasma sintering (SPS) on electric performance of Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 thermoelectric materials that are prepared through vacuum melting and ball milling. Through X-ray Diffraction and cold field emission scanning electric microscope s4800, the phase constituent and microstructure of the TE materials samples were analyzed. Electric conductivity and power factor can be improved with the rise of Spark Plasma Sintering temperature (from 300 to 500 degrees C) and pressure(from 30 to 60 MPa), and the density and mechanical strength of Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 thermoelectric material increase, too.