Thermoelectric properties of highly deformed and subsequently annealed p-type (Bi_0.25Sb_0.75)₂Te₃ alloys

The effects of mechanical deformation and subsequent annealing on the thermoelectric properties and microstructure have been investigated for p-type (Bi_0.25Sb_0.75)₂Te₃ alloys prepared by melting followed by quenching. The mechanically deformed pellets were prepared by repetition of cold-pressing of quenched samples at room temperature. Cold-pressed pellets were then annealed at 300°C in vacuum, and the thermoelectric properties and microstructure were traced through the course of the heat treatment. For the heavily deformed samples, the Seebeck coefficient rapidly increased at the very early stage of annealing and did not change as the annealing time increased, due to recrystallization of a new δ-phase which equilibrated at the annealing temperature of 300°C (δ₃₀₀- phase). At the initial stage of annealing (recovery stage), the electrical resistivity sharply increased, probably due to the interaction of antistructural defects with vacancies produced during the cold-pressing treatment. However, for the lightly deformed samples, recrystallization occurred only at some portion of the grain boundaries, and the newly generated δ₃₀₀- phase slowly replaced the original, as-solidified δ_ingot-phase.