Neodymium doped bismuth telluride alloys using chemical reflux method for thermoelectric application

ABSTRACT

This work reports synthesis of pure and neodymium (Nd) doped bismuth telluride (Bi₂Te₃) alloys (Bi_2-xNd_xTe₃, x = 0, 0.5), using reflux method. The X-ray powder diffraction for the as-synthesized Bi₂Te₃ indicates phase purity and crystallographic structure, and agrees well with the prescribed JCPDS data # 000–60601. The Bi_2-xNd_xTe₃ alloys were characterized by pursuing various imaging and spectroscopic techniques including, scanning electron microscope, and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. After Nd doping, the micrographs show formation of a new contrast (white phase) with the prominent (201) plane of a hexagonal crystal structure.

KEYWORDS:

• Thermoelectric material
• bismuth telluride
• reflux method

Funding

The authors would like to thank the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), India, for providing the financial support through the extramural research funding Ref. No. ERIP/ER/1103992/M/01/1515.