Anisotropy of Thermoelectric Properties of Bi and Bi-Sn Nanowires for Thermoelectric Applications

For the first time, anisotropies of resistance and thermopower of glass-insulated wires of pure and tin-doped bismuth are studied both in the absence of magnetic field and in a weak magnetic field. The wires with diameters from 100 nm to 1-2 mu m are fabricated by casting. The wires with C-3 orientation along the axis are fabricated by zone recrystallization with seed. The anisotropy of magnetoresistance is studied using the method of angular diagrams of rotation of the transverse magnetoresistance. As shown, the magnetic field leads to an increase in the thermopower in absolute value, and the doping with Sn leads to a significant increase in the thermopower anisotropy that is important for design of transverse anisotropic thermoelements.