Water-Free SbOx ALD Process for Coating Bi2Te3 Particles

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Sebastian Lehmann - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Fanny Mitzscherling - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Shiyang He - , Chair of Metallic Materials and Metal Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Jun Yang - , Chair of Metallic Materials and Metal Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Martin Hantusch - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Kornelius Nielsch - , Chair of Metallic Materials and Metal Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Amin Bahrami - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)

Abstract

We developed a water-free atomic layer deposition (ALD) process to homogeneously deposit SbOx using SbCl5 and Sb-Ethoxide as precursors, and report it here for the first time. The coating is applied on Bi2Te3 particles synthesized via the solvothermal route to enhance the thermoelectric properties (i.e., Seebeck coefficient, thermal and electrical conductivity) via interface engineering. The amorphous character of the coating was shown by the missing reflexes on the X-ray diffractograms (XRD). A shift from the oxidation state +III to +V of the Sb species was observed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), indicating increased thickness of the SbOx coating layer. Additionally, a peak shift of the Sb 3d5/2 + O 1s peak indicated increased n-type doping of the material. Electrical measurements of spark plasma-sintered bulk samples confirmed the doping effect on the basis of decreased specific resistivity with increasing SbOx layer thickness. The Seebeck coefficient was improved for the coated sample with 500 cycles of SbOx, while the total thermal conductivity was reduced, resulting in enhancement of the zT. The results distinctly show that surface engineering via powder ALD is an effective tool for improving key properties of thermoelectric materials like electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number641
JournalCoatings
Volume13
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • BiTe particles, powder atomic layer deposition, solvothermal synthesis, thermoelectric materials, water-free SbO ALD process