Solid-state synthesis of single-phase Zn/sub 4/Sb/sub 3/ bulk sample on the route of the bulk mechanical alloying

Newly-developed bulk mechanical alloying system is applied to solid-state fabrication of Zn-Sb compounds for preparation of Zb/sub 4/Sb/sub 3/ thermoelectric materials. By optimizing the annealing and hot-pressing conditions as subsequent processes to bulk mechanical alloying, single phase Zn/sub 4/Sb/sub 3/ highly dense, bulk samples can be prepared without any cracks. The present processing on the route of bulk mechanical alloying enables us not only to investigate the nonstoichiometric effects on the thermoelectric properties of Zn/sub 4/Sb/sub 3/ but also to produce dense, solid thermoelectric materials for practical use.