Bi nanostructures are promising materials for thermoelectric energy conversion due to its potential for high figure of merit enabled by quantum confinement effect. Large scale fabrication of Bi nanoparticles with high quality has been very challenging. Herein, we reported a new process of making Bi nanocomposites based on Bi nanoparticles fabricated by a new process with a very high yield. The process was based on a modified spark erosion technique in which bulk Bi chucks were used as starting materials and subsequently converted to powers with a large fraction of nanoparticles.  SEM imaging showed that a large fraction of the as-fabricated Bi powders are nano-sized particles. The Bi nano-powders were then subsequently compacted into bulk shaped pellets by cold pressing at room temperature. Electrical measurements show that the compacted pellets have bulk-like electrical conductivity, indicating the high quality and minimal oxidation of the synthesized Bi particles.

Large scale fabrication of bi nanoparticles for thermoelectric energy conversion

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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