Bismuth(III) Telluride and Graphite Nanoplatelets Composite: Manufacturing, Characterization, and Thermoelectric Properties

This research develops a thermoelectric (TE) material composite material made of a p-type bismuth(III) telluride (Bi2Te3) base with different contents of graphite nanoplatelets, GnPs, (0, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0 wt.%), a very inexpensive and highly available material elsewhere.A comprehensive systematic search was conducted as well to provide an overview of trends and limitations in the field of TE materials revealing cost-related aspects and underexplored initiatives associated with circular economy and composite materials.This development is accompanied by physicochemical characterization for the raw materials, for the ground powders, and for the fabricated composite materials.The characterization techniques included scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction; as well as measurements of TE properties such as electrical conductivity (/ ), mobility (/ ), aall coefficient (/ ), and eeebec coefficient (/).The addition of graphite nanoplatelets improved the TE properties, which could be further raised via process optimization methods.The manufacturing process was ept simple and inexpensive when compared to other methods.GnPs are low cost and worldwide available, and can be produced from very diverse sources, including solid waste, which ma es this proposal potentially feasible and sustainable.