Synthesis of silver, antimony, and tin doped bismuth telluride nanoparticles and bulk bismuth telluride to form bismuth telluride composites

摘要

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are provided of thermoelectric materials, which embodiments may have improved figure of merit. In one exemplary embodiment, a thermoelectric material generally includes bismuth telluride nanoparticles, which may be undoped or doped with at least one or more of silver, antimony, tin, and/or a combination thereof. The bismuth telluride nanoparticles may be dispersed in a matrix material comprising particulate bismuth telluride. Methods for making undoped and doped bismuth telluride nanoparticles are also disclosed, which may include a solvothermal method for making bismuth telluride nanoparticles having a size ranging from 1 to 200 nanometers.

主权项

1. A thermoelectric material comprising bismuth telluride nanoparticles, the nanoparticles being dispersed in a matrix material that comprises particulate bismuth telluride, wherein:
the thermoelectric material comprises a homogenized thermoelectric material having a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of at least 1 or more; and the bismuth telluride nanoparticles are doped with at least one or more of silver, antimony, tin, and/or a combination thereof; the bismuth telluride nanoparticles have a maximum dimension less than 200 nanometers; and the bismuth telluride nanoparticles are present in the thermoelectric material in an amount ranging from more than 20% to about 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the thermoelectric material; and the particulate bismuth telluride is present in the thermoelectric material in an amount ranging from 70% to less than 80% by weight, based on the total weight of the thermoelectric material.