Effect of Bismuth Nanotubes on the Thermoelectric Properties of BiSb Alloy Nanocomposites

Bismuth nanotubes have been synthesized and successfully included in Bi1−x Sb x nanoalloys to form composite structures. The nanotubes were synthesized by transformation of a β-BiI precursor with n-BuLi solution leading to tubular bismuth structures. The Bi1−x Sb x nanoalloys were produced by ball milling. Three series of composite structures were synthesized by including different fractions (0 wt.%, 3 wt.%, 5 wt.%) of nanotubes in nanoalloys of different composition x. Investigation of thermoelectric and structural properties revealed a decrease of the thermal conductivity of up to 40% for the composites in comparison with alloys without nanotube inclusions. This effect can be attributed to enhanced phonon scattering. Seebeck coefficients and electrical conductivities were both slightly enhanced in the composite series with 3 wt.% nanotube inclusions, leading to enhancement of $$ ZT \ \left(ZT=\frac {(S^2 \sigma)}{\kappa}\,{ {T}}\right) $$ throughout the series compared with the nanoalloy series without nanotube inclusions.