Optical and thermoelectric characterizations of electroplated n-Bi2(Te0.9Se0.1)3 Original Research Article

Bismuth selenotelluride (Bi2(Te0.9Se0.1)3) films were electrodeposited at constant current density from acidic aqueous solutions with Arabic gum in order to produce thin films for miniaturized thermoelectric devices. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy determined film compositions. X-ray diffraction pattern shows that the films as deposited are polycrystalline, isostructural to Bi2Te3 and covered by crystallites. Mueller-matrix analysis reveals that the electroplated layers are optically like an isotropic medium. Their pseudo-dielectric functions were determined using mid-infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry. Tauc–Lorentz combined with Drude dispersion relations were successfully used. The energy band gap Eg was found to be about 0.15 eV. Moreover, the fundamental absorption edge was described by an indirect optical band-to-band transition. From Seebeck coefficient measurement, films exhibit n-type charge carrier and the value of thermoelectric power is about −40 μV/K.