Hot pressing and nanostructuring of Bi₉₀Sb₁₀ alloys to concurrently improve mechanical and thermoelectric properties

The microstructure of Bi₉₀Sb₁₀ composites with separate additions of Ag and As was studied, and measurements of the room temperature transport properties were made to see the effects of hot pressing with and without precipitates. The most successful nanostructured Bi ₉₀Sb₁₀ samples were those containing As when annealed for durations of 3 days or less near the solidus temperature. The transport measurements showing similar electrical resistivity and decreased thermal conductivity with the addition of precipitates at room temperature demonstrates the potential of this bulk nanostructuring and synthesis approach in this material system. With further study, this work could be helpful in creating similar complex nanostructured systems which have the potential to yield high-efficiency thermoelectric materials for low temperature applications.