Composites of Bi2-xSbxTe3 nanocrystals and fullerene molecules for thermoelectricity

New nanocomposite thermoelectric material composed from nanocrystallites of Bi-Sb-Te alloys covered by C-60 molecules has been synthesized and studied. An increase of fullerene content leads to the growth of hole concentration in p-type materials and reduction of electron concentration in n-type materials. The fullerene molecules provide additional scattering of phonons reducing lattice heat conductivity. Reduction of heat conductivity exceeds the reduction of electrical conductivity for fullerene content less than 0.5 volume % and essential enhances the thermoelectric figure of merit. The maximum value of thermoelectric figure of merit equals to 1.17 at 450 K was observed in Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 composite containing 0.5 volume % C-60 molecules. The experimental results were analyzed in a frame of the model based on the Boltzmann equation. The analysis considers light and heavy electrons and holes and accounts the intervalley scattering of charge carriers. The calculations of the kinetic coefficients shows that the improvement of the thermoelectric figure of merit originates from the reduction of the lattice heat conductivity caused by fullerene molecules. The dependencies of the thermoelectric figure of merit on the acceptor concentration were calculated. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.