Gas Atomization and Consolidation of Thermoelectric Materials

The n-type $(95%Bi_2Te_3-5%Bi_2Se_3)$ compound was newly fabricated by gas atomization and hot extrusion, which is considered to be a mass production technique of this alloy. The effect of powder size on thermoelectric properties of 0.04% $SbI_3$ doped $95%Bi_2Te_3-5%Bi_2Se_3$ alloy were investigated. Seebeck coefficient $({\alpha})$ and Electrical resistivity $(\rho)$ increased with increasing powder size due to the decrease in carrier concentration by oxygen content. With increasing powder size, the compressive strength of $95%Bi_2Te_3-5%Bi_2Se_3$ alloy was increased due to the relative high density. The compound with ${\sim}300\;{\mu}m$ size shows the highest power factor among the four different powder sizes. The rapidly solidified and hot extruded compound using $200[\sim}300{\mu}m$ powder size shows the highest compressive strength.