Thermoelectric properties of hot-pressed β-K2Bi 8Se13-x Sx materials

Abstract

In this work, hot-pressed pellets of the K2Bi8Se 13 family of compounds were prepared for the first time. The pellet fabrication of selected members of the K2Bi8Se 13-x Sx series was studied. Sintering parameters, such as temperature, pressure and duration, were investigated based on a statistical design- of-experiments approach to identify the optimum conditions for fabrication of high-quality pellets. These optimum conditions were then applied for the K2Bi8Se13-x Sx series and the thermoelectric properties of the stoichiometric members for x = 0, 4, 6 and 8 were studied. Doping experiments were also investigated using sulfur excess in the x = 6 member in an attempt to modify its properties. © 2012 TMS.