https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/s10051-026-01167-6
Research - Condensed Matter
Unveiling advanced thermoelectric features in indium-doped Bi2Te3 bulk materials
1
Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, 82524, Sohag, Egypt
2
Faculty of Engineering, King Salman International University, 45615, El Tor, South Sinai, Egypt
3
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Faisal University, 31982, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
4
Mechanical Department, Faculty of Technology and Education, Suez University, Suez, Egypt
5
Faculty of Technological Industries, King Salman International University, El Tor, South Sinai, Egypt
6
Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Damanhour University, 22516, Damanhour, Egypt
a
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
b
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Received:
26
November
2025
Accepted:
11
March
2026
Published online:
20
May
2026
Abstract
The influence of indium doping on the structure, morphology, and thermoelectric properties of bulk Bi2Te3 is investigated in the current work. Bi2Te3 and Bi2−xInxTe3 crystalline bulk samples have been fabricated using a simple mono-temperature melting method. The thermoelectric properties were evaluated within the temperature range of 300–700 K. The Seebeck coefficients (S) of the synthesized alloys proved the domination of n-type conduction due to consistently negative S values. The largest Seebeck coefficient was recorded at 142.4 µV/K, which was observed at 700 K for the pristine Bi2Te3 sample. The highest power factor was found at PF = 3.62 mW m−1 K−2, obtained for Bi2Te3 at room temperature. Thermal conductivity was measured and studied against temperature elevation. It was found that the thermal conductivity of the In-doped Bi1.98In0.02Te3 alloys is significantly reduced compared with that of the pure Bi2Te3 material. Such a reduction was attributed to the fact that substituting In for Bi atoms causes alloying scattering and consequently results in phonon scattering, which hence reduces the thermal conductivity. The thermoelectric figure of merit (zT) was calculated from the measured Seebeck coefficient and electrical and thermal conductivities. The maximum zT was achieved at 0.73 observed for the Bi1.94In0.06Te3 sample at 700 K.
Copyright comment Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, SIF and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2026
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
