High-pressure thermopower technique and its application

In this paper we present details of a technique of measurement of the thermoelectric power (Seebeck effect) at high pressure to 30 GPa. Two examples of its application are displayed as follows: lead (Pb) and bismuth telluride alloys (Bi₂Te₃ and In_xBi_2−xTe₃). For lead a kink in the pressure dependence of the thermopower near 13 GPa has been established and addressed to the structural fcc → hcp phase transition. The (In,Bi)₂Te₃ thermoelectrics exhibited a pressure-driven improvement of the thermoelectric parameters, such as thermoelectric power factor (efficiency) and the dimensionless figure of merit. The reasons of this enhancement are discussed.