Thermoelectric characteristics of the p-type (Bi0.2Sb0.8)2Te3 nanocomposites processed with SbTe nanowire dispersion

The (Bi0.2Sb0.8)2Te3 nanocomposites with SbTe nanowire dispersion were processed by hot pressing at 550°C and their thermoelectric characteristics were evaluated with the variation of the SbTe nanowire content up to 0.5 wt. %. With the dispersion of 0.1–0.5 wt. % SbTe nanowires, the thermal conductivity of the (Bi0.2Sb0.8)2Te3 nanocomposite was substantially reduced due to the enhanced phonon scattering. The maximum dimensionless figure-of-merit of 1.33°C at 75°C was obtained for the (Bi0.2Sb0.8)2Te3 nanocomposite dispersed with 0.5 wt. % SbTe nanowires, compared to 1.11 of the specimen without SbTe nanowire dispersion.