Thermoelectric properties of BI1-XSBX (0≤ Х ≤ 0.12) wires depending on diameter, composition and temperature

Abstract

Behaviour of kinetic coefficients versus temperature (4.2 - 300 K), composition and diameter (d) was studied on the samples of thin single-crystal bismuth and Bi1-xSbx wires obtained by the Ulitovsky method. Antimony content (х) in the samples varied from 0 to 12 аt.%, diameter - from 0.3 to 3 μm. The resulting dependences indicate that maximum thermoelectric figure of merit corresponds to composition Bi0.88Sb0.12. Maximum values of power factor (α2σ) are observed at the values of d ≥ 2 μm in the temperature range of 80 - 200 K. Temperature range of maximum power factor value essentially depends on the wire diameter d: diameter reduction results in displacement of maximum value (α2σ) to higher-temperature region which is important for practical applications.