Synthesis and thermoelectric/electrical characterization of electrodeposited SbxTey thin films

SbxTey films were potentiostatically electrodeposited from acidic nitric baths at room temperature by controlling the applied potential. Near-stoichiometric Sb2Te3 thin films were obtained at applied potentials between −0.15 and −0.30 V vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE). Post-annealing in a reducing environment resulted in an improvement in the crystal structure without the evaporation of the Te element. This result was indicated by a significant reduction in the electrical resistance and decrease in the FWHM of the main diffraction peaks. The power factor (σS2) increased from 44.2 to 372.1 μW/m K2 after annealing at 473 K.