Abstract
The effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on the electrochemical behavior of the Bi-Te binary system in nitric acid baths was investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Based on the results, MWNT/Bi2Te3 composite thermoelectric films were prepared by potentiostatic electrodeposition at room temperature. The morphology, composition, and structure of the MWNT/Bi2Te3 composite films were analyzed by environmental scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction. The results show that addition of MWNTs to the electrolyte did not change the electrochemical reduction mechanisms of Bi3+, HTeO +2 or their mixture, but the reduction processes of Bi3+, HTeO +2 , and their mixture become easier. MWNT/Bi2Te3 composite thermoelectric films can be obtained by potentiostatic electrodeposition at a wide range of potentials with subsequent annealing. The MWNTs in the films act as nucleation sites for Bi2Te3 compound and thereby elevate the film deposition rate. The content of Bi element and MWNTs in the films increased as the potential was shifted negatively. In addition, the MWNTs can enhance the crystallization of Bi2Te3 film.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
D.M. Rowe, CRC Handbook of Thermoelectrics (Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1994), p. 1.
L.S. Su and Y.X. Gan, Electrochim. Acta 56, 16 (2011).
A. Giani, A. Al Bayaz, and A. Foucaran, J. Cryst. Growth 236, 217 (2002).
Y.B. Liu, S.M. Zhou, X.Y. Yuan, S.Y. Lou, T. Gao, X.J. Shi, and X.P. Wu, Mater. Lett. 84, 1 (2012).
T.E. Huber and R. Calcao, Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Thermoelectrics (IEEE, 1997), p. 404.
Y.X. Gan, J. Sweetman, and J.G. Lawrence, Mater. Lett. 64, 3 (2010).
D.D. Frari, S. Diliberto, N. Stein, C. Boulanger, and J.M. Lecuire, J. Appl. Electrochem. 36, 449 (2006).
T.J. Yoon, Y.H. Park, and T.S. Oh, Mater. Sci. Forum 544, 917 (2007).
L.X. Bu, W. Wang, and H. Wang, Mater. Res. Bull. 43, 1808 (2008).
L. Li, G.H. Li, Y. Zhang, Y.W. Yang, and L.D. Zhang, J. Phys. Chem. B. 108, 19380 (2004).
D. Delfrari, S. Diliberto, N. Stein, C. Boulanger, and J. Lecuire, Thin Solid Films 483, 44 (2005).
P. Heo, K. Hagiwara, R. Ichino, and M. Okido, J. Electrochem. Soc. 153, C213 (2006).
H. Ebe, M. Ueda, and T. Ohtsuka, Electrochim. Acta 53, 100 (2007).
F.H. Li and W. Wang, Electrochim. Acta 17, 5000 (2010).
B. Liu, Z.X. Zeng, and Y.M. Lin, Surf. Coat. Technol. 203, 3610 (2009).
Y.L. Yang, Y.D. Wang, and Y. Ren, Mater. Lett. 62, 47 (2008).
P.E. Lopes, F.V. Hattum, and C.M.C. Pereira, Compos. Struct. 92, 1291 (2010).
A. Sharma, S. Kumar, and B. Tripathi, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 34, 3977 (2009).
J.P. Small, L. Shi, and P. Kim, Solid State Commun. 127, 181 (2003).
C. Yu, Y.S. Kim, and D. Kim, Nano Lett. 8, 4428 (2008).
D.H. Park, M.Y. Kim, and T.S. Oh, Curr. Appl. Phys. 11, S41 (2011).
F.H. Li, F.L. Jia, and W. Wang, Appl. Surf. Sci. 255, 7394 (2009).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xu, H., Wang, W. Electrodeposition of MWNT/Bi2Te3 Composite Thermoelectric Films. J. Electron. Mater. 42, 1936–1945 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-013-2479-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-013-2479-1