Stratification of Bi$_{0.5}$Sb$_{1.5}$Te$_{3}$ single crystals and sintering of the obtained micro- and nanoscale plates

The use of surface active liquids facilitates intense stratification of mechanically strained Bi$_{0.5}$Sb$_{1.5}$Te$_{3}$ crystallites. A Bi$_{0.5}$Sb$_{1.5}$Te$_{3}$ heat element with specified thickness and structure is formed by layer-by-layer deposition of “thermoelectric ink” on its free surface. A heat treatment of the formed thermoelectric element in argon at a temperature of 800 K makes it possible to minimize radically the resistance of the grain boundaries introduced into its bulk.