Transport properties of Bi-rich Bi-Sb alloys

This study is focused on the investigation of the transport properties of Bi-Sb alloys. Electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power and thermal conductivity were measured in a direction perpendicular or parallel to the trigonal axis within the temperature range 4.2 - 300 K on various alloy compositions containing up to 18.2 at.% antimony. The temperature dependences of the three coefficients are described in detail. Low temperature behaviour depends strongly on the crystal purity, particularly in the semiconducting range. A qualitative explanation of these results is given in terms of an impurity band which merges with the conduction band. Thermoelectric properties are discussed and compared with previous studies