Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Layered (Bi<jats:sub>1−x</jats:sub>In<jats:sub>x</jats:sub>)<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Te<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>-In<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Te<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> (x = 0.075) composites of pronounced anisotropy in structure and thermoelectric properties were produced by zone melting and subsequent coherent precipitation of In<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Te<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> from a (Bi<jats:sub>1−x</jats:sub>In<jats:sub>x</jats:sub>)<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Te<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> (x > 0.075) matrix. Employing solid state phase transformation, the Bi<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Te<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>/In<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Te<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> interface density was tuned by modifying the driving force for In<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Te<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> precipitation. The structure-property relationship in this strongly anisotropic material is characterized thoroughly and systematically for the first time. Unexpectedly, with increasing Bi<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Te<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>/In<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Te<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> interface density, an increase in electrical conductivity and a decrease in the absolute Seebeck coefficient were found. This is likely to be due to electron accumulation layers at the Bi<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Te<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>/In<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Te<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> interfaces and the interplay of bipolar transport in Bi<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Te<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>. Significantly improved thermoelectric properties of Bi<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Te<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>-In<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Te<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> composites as compared to the single phase (Bi<jats:sub>1−x</jats:sub>In<jats:sub>x</jats:sub>)<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>Te<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> solid solution are obtained.</jats:p>