Fabrication of bulk materials from fine particles of PbTe-SnTe solid solutions prepared through thermal decomposition of salts

A process has been proposed for the fabrication of microcrystalline thermoelectric materials based on PbTe-SnTe solid solutions by compacting and hot-pressing fine powders prepared through the thermal decomposition of lead acetate trihydrate and tin oxalate in the presence of tellurium powders. We analyze the mechanism of the thermal decomposition of the powder mixtures, resulting in the formation of Pb1 − x Sn x Te particles, and examine the influence of cold compaction, heat treatment, and hot pressing on the grain composition, electrical conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient of materials prepared by pressing the powders.