Hot pressed pellets of thallium doped bismuth telluride alloys for thermoelectrics

ABSTRACT

Thallium doped bismuth telluride alloys (Bi_2-xTl_xTe₃) are synthesized using solvothermal method, and pellets are formed using hot-press machine by applying 60 MPa pressure at 553 K temperature for 5 min. The X-ray powder diffraction for the as-synthesized Bi_2-xTl_xTe₃ alloys indicates phase purity and crystallographic structures. Scanning electron microscopy indicates highly compact plate-like structures for hot-pressed pellets. The energy dispersive X-ray spectrophotometer predicts a stoichiometric ratio of 2:3 for Bi and Te in the Bi₂Te₃. The newly prepared Bi_2-xTl_xTe₃ pellets could be utilized as an efficient material in thermoelectric devices for power generation from waste heat.

KEYWORDS:

• Nanostructures
• bismuth telluride
• solvothermal synthesis
• thermoelectrics
• hot press

Funding

The authors would like to thank the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), India, for providing the financial support through the extramural research funding Ref. No. ERIP/ER/1103992/M/01/1515.