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Abstract: Reversible electrochemical lithium intercalation/deintercalation reactions have been applied to integrally modify the thermoelectric performance of Bi2Se0.3Te2.7 compounds. The carrier concentration of Bi2Se0.3Te2.7 has been precisely controlled experimentally through the adjustment of the residual lithium content. The variations of electronic transport properties of Li x Bi2Se0.3Te2.7, including electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient and carrier concentration, as a function of the intercalated lithium amount (x), show a special non-monotonic P-type to N-type doping trend. This variation is caused by the competition of two mechanisms controlling the carrier concentration: (i) decreasing of the Se/Te ratio through a Li–Se reaction that reduces the amount of the TeBi or SeBi antisite defects and therefore the electron concentration; (ii) n-type doping by lithium that provides the electron. Moreover, the nanoparticle exfoliation during lithium intercalation and deintercalation reactions leads to the formation of an internal nanocrystalline composite structure which effectively reduces the lattice thermal conductivity. Through an integral modification of both electrical and thermal transport properties, the maximum ZT value of Li x Bi2Se0.3Te2.7 was improved by nearly 25%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two crystals of Bi2Se0.21Te2.79 doped with 0.08wt% TeI4 were grown by zone melting on the Foton-M3 spacecraft of Russia and the ground in 2007, respectively. The chemical composition, structure and thermoelectric properties of the space and ground crystals grown were evaluated by EPMA, XRD and thermoelectric measurements including Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity. The compositions of the space crystal grown along growth direction were more homogeneous than that of the ground crystal grown. The crystallization of space crystal grown was obviously improved. The maximum ZT value of space crystal reached 1.14 at 300K, which was higher about 29% than that of ground crystal at room temperature. These results imply that the composition homogeneity and crystallization of Bi2Se0.21Te2.79 crystal can be improved under microgravity conditions, which is helpful for enhancing thermoelectric figure of merit of Bi2Te3-base materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]