Thermoelectric Properties of Hot-Pressed β-K2Bi8Se13-x S x Materials

In this work, hot-pressed pellets of the K2Bi8Se13 family of compounds were prepared for the first time. The pellet fabrication of selected members of the K2Bi8Se13-x S (x) series was studied. Sintering parameters, such as temperature, pressure, and duration, were investigated based on a statistical design- of-experiments approach to identify the optimum conditions for fabrication of high-quality pellets. These optimum conditions were then applied for the K2Bi8Se13-x S (x) series, and the thermoelectric properties of the stoichiometric members for x = 0, 4, 6, and 8 were studied. Doping experiments were also investigated using sulfur excess in the x = 6 member in an attempt to modify its properties.