Magnéli phase titanium suboxides by Flash Spark Plasma Sintering

Abstract

A Flash Spark Plasma Sintering (FSPS) technique was used to fully densify Magnéli phase titanium suboxides (95%TD) in 9 s. A modified FSPS setup contributed to produce homogeneous and dense microstructures, thus avoiding undesired residual porosity at the contact surfaces between samples and electrodes. FSPSed samples retained the original phases (Ti 4 O 7 , Ti 5 O 9 and Ti 6 O 11 ) of the starting powder, whereas Ti 4 O 7 disappeared in those samples densified using Conventional Spark Plasma Sintering (CSPS). Compared to CSPSed samples, FSPSed ones possessed higher room-temperature electrical conductivity (1558 S·cm − 1 ). FSPSed sample exhibited good thermoelectric properties with a figure of merit (ZT) of 0.085 at 1073 K.