Template-Free Bipotentiostatic Deposition of Thermoelectric BixTey Nano Arrays

Abstract

Monodispersed Bi-Tenano arrays are achieved via template-free bipotentiostatic deposition. The diameter and length of individual nanorod is ~80 nm and ~250 nm respectively. The electrodeposition process is demonstrated to follow a two-step mechanism: an instantaneous reductive potential is applied to form dispersive nuclei, then a reverse oxidative potential strips partial Bi atoms to prevent further cross-growth. Repeatedly, the nano arrays film is obtained eventually. The thermoelectric properties of the obtained Bi-Tenano arrays such as electrical resistance, carrier density, Seebeck coefficient and power factor are measured to be 2.438 × 10 −4 Ω·m, 4.251 × 10 20 cm −3 , −25.892 μV·K −1 , 2.750 × 10 −6 W·m −1 ·K 2 , respectively.