Influence of Sn on the thermoelectric properties of (BixSb1−x)2Te3 single crystals

The influence of tin on the thermoelectric properties of p-(BixSb1−x)2Te3 single crystals (x=0; 0.25; 0.5) has been investigated. The temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient S, the electrical conductivity σ, the heat conductivity k and the thermoelectric figure of merit of p-(BixSb1−x)2Te3 single crystals were measured in the temperature range 7–300 K. By an increase the Sn content, the hole concentration increases in p-(BixSb1−x)2−ySnyTe3. The heat conductivity k of the p-(BixSb1−x)2−ySnyTe3 crystals decreases due to the Sn doping, while the electrical conductivity σ increases in the temperature interval about 200