Thermoelectric and mechanical properties of Bi$_{0.5}$Sb$_{1.5}$Te$_{3}$ solid solution prepared by melt solidification in liquid

The influence of the conditions for preparing samples from granules of Bi$_{0.5}$Sb$_{1.5}$Te$_{3}$ solid solution obtained by melt solidification in liquid on the mechanical and thermoelectric properties of these samples is investigated. The microstructure and surface morphology of sample cleavages are analyzed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties of the samples are investigated by compression tests at temperatures from 300 to 620 K. The thermoelectric characteristics (Seebeck coefficient and electrical and thermal conductivities) are measured both at room temperature and in the temperature range of 100–700 K. The samples with the highest thermoelectric figure of merit, $(ZT)_{\operatorname{max}}\approx$ 1.3 at 370 K, are obtained.