Electrochemical deposition of Bi2Te3-based thin films

The electrochemical reduction processes on stainless-steel substrates from an aqueous electrolyte composed of nitric acid, Bi3+, HTeO2+, SbO+ and H2SeO3 systems were investigated using cyclic voltammetry. The thin films with a stoichiometry of Bi2Te3, Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 and Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 have been prepared by electrochemical deposition at selected potentials. The structure, composition, and morphology of the films were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA). The results showed that the films were single phase with the rhombohedral Bi2Te3 structure. The morphology and growth orientation of the films were dependent on the deposition potentials.