Improving yield and performance in pseudo-ternary thermoelectric alloys (Bi2Te3)(Sb2Te3)(Sb2Se3)

Thermoelectric alloys of Bi2Te3-Sb2Te3-Sb2Se3 have typically been fabricated by Bridgman growth and zone growth [1, 2]. This study showed that the method of growth does not appear to produce a significant difference in the figure of merit. However, it was found that the zone techniques can produce a higher yield of material than Bridgman techniques in both the p-and n-type material without a degradation in the high figure of merit. The maximum figure of merit for p-type alloy (Bi2Te3)(72)(Sb2Te3)(25)(Sb2Se3)(3) was found to be 3.6x10(-3)K(-1) and for the n-type (Bi2Te3)(90)(Sb2Te3)(5)(Sb2Se3)(5), 3.2 x 10(-3)K(-1) [1].