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Approaches Toward Chemically Prepared Multiple Quantum Well Structures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

S. B. Cronin
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
T. Koga
Affiliation:
Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139
X. Sun
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
Z. Ding
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095
S.-C. Huang
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095
R. B. Kaner
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095
M. S. Dresselhaus
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139 Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
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Abstract

An enhanced thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT, has been predicted for Bi2Te3 in the form of 2-dimensional quantum wells. A new approach to making multiple quantum well (MQW) structures for thermoelectric applications utilizing a chemical intercalation technique is proposed and investigated. It is proposed that by starting from Li intercalated Bi2Te3 and Bi2Se3, the layers of these materials can be separated by chemical means. The layers of Bi2Te3 or Bi2 Se3 can then be restacked, by self-assembly, forming a non-periodic array of quantum wells. These chemically prepared MQWs are characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and TEM (transmission electron microscopy) at various stages in the sample preparation to assess the degree to which the actual samples match the proposal. Experimental measurements of the Seebeck coefficient (S) and the electrical conductivity (σ) were performed over a range of temperatures for the initial bulk materials. It is found that some of the steps in the proposed fabrication have been achieved but still much improvement is needed before any practical thermoelectric 2D-system can be provided.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1999

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References

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