Synthesis and Thermoelectric Characterization of Bi2Te3 Nanoparticles

Abstract Here, a novel synthesis for near monodisperse, sub‐10 nm Bi 2 Te 3 nanoparticles is reported. A new reduction route to bismuth nanoparticles is described, which are then applied as starting materials in the formation of rhombohedral Bi 2 Te 3 nanoparticles. After ligand removal by a novel hydrazine hydrate etching procedure, the nanoparticle powder is spark plasma sintered to a pellet with preserved crystal grain sizes. Unlike previous works on the properties of Bi 2 Te 3 nanoparticles, the full thermoelectric characterization of such sintered pellets shows a highly reduced thermal conductivity and the same electric conductivity as bulk n‐type Bi 2 Te 3 .