Thermoelectric materials – selected synthesis methods | Faculty of Applied Physics and Mathematics at the Gdańsk University of Technology

In the presentation, the thermoelectric effect will be discussed. A relation between this effect and entropy will be emphasised. Thermoelectric materials manufacturing methods will be presented. “record” results suggest, that dense material with good crystallinity is most suitable for applications in thermoelectric cells. Monocrystalline materials are most preferable.

Participants will be presented with the results of the investigation of the synthesis of (Bi,Sb)₂Te₃-type materials with an oxide reduction method. The research shows, that thermoelectric material powder can be obtained at low temperature (below 500°C) and in a short time (2 hours). Results regarding selected materials synthesised with this method will be presented, e.g. nanometric bismuth telluride obtained at the temperature of 250°C. Highly-porous (c.a. 50%) skutterudite CoSb₃ turned out to have the zT value higher than material prepared with a conventional SPS method. The reduction method is also useful for the synthesis of copper selenide, allowing to obtain a composition with no copper deficiency.