Structure and Properties of Thermoelectric Materials Based on Bi2(SeTe)3 and (BiSb)2Te3 Solid Solutions Prepared by Equal-Channel Angular Pressing

Using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, we have studied general aspects of defect structure formation in thermoelectric materials in different stages of plastic flow in the equal-channel angular pressing process with three channels. The results demonstrate that materials prepared using this deformation configuration have a fine-grained, homogeneous microstructure with a favorable texture, such that the cleavage planes of the grains are oriented along the extrusion axis. Studies of the structure and properties of the thermoelectric materials allowed us to optimize the equal-channel angular pressing temperature, which should be below the recrystallization onset temperature.