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Surface Oxidation and Thermoelectric Properties of Indium-Doped Tin Telluride Nanowires

Surface Oxidation and Thermoelectric Properties of Indium-Doped Tin Telluride Nanowires

Zhen Li, Enzhi Xu, Yaroslav Losovyj, Nan Li, Aiping Chen, Brian Swartzentruber, Nikolai Sinitsyn, Jinkyoung Yoo, Quanxi Jia, Shixiong Zhang

Nanoscale. 2017 Sep 14;9(35):13014-13024.

PMID: 28832046

Abstract:

The recent discovery of excellent thermoelectric properties and topological surface states in SnTe-based compounds has attracted extensive attention in various research areas. Indium doped SnTe is of particular interest because, depending on the doping level, it can either generate resonant states in the bulk valence band leading to enhanced thermoelectric properties, or induce superconductivity that coexists with topological states. Here we report on the vapor deposition of In-doped SnTe nanowires and the study of their surface oxidation and thermoelectric properties. The nanowire growth is assisted by Au catalysts, and their morphologies vary as a function of substrate position and temperature. Transmission electron microscopy characterization reveals the formation of an amorphous surface in single crystalline nanowires. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies suggest that the nanowire surface is composed of In2O3, SnO2, Te and TeO2 which can be readily removed by argon ion sputtering. Exposure of the cleaned nanowires to atmosphere leads to rapid oxidation of the surface within only one minute. Characterization of electrical conductivity σ, thermopower S, and thermal conductivity κ was performed on the same In-doped nanowire which shows suppressed σ and κ but enhanced S yielding an improved thermoelectric figure of merit ZT compared to the undoped SnTe.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
AP12040027	Tin telluride		12040-02-7	Price

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