Characterization of Bi2Te3 Nanostructure by Using a Cost-Effective Chemical Solution Route

An efficient and cost-effective approach in the synthesis process of the bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) powders and pellets were developed based on a chemical solution route. The route consists of dissolving of both the bismuth (III) nitrate pentahydrate, Bi(NO3)3.5H2O, and tellurium dioxide, TeO2 into the same inorganic nitric acid, HNO3 with the two-step precipitation of sodium hydroxide, NaOH and sodium borohydride, NaBH4. The different characterization parameters such as X–Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X–ray (EDX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), UltraViolet (UV) absorbance and Fourier Transform InfraRed (FT-IR) spectrometry were carried out. As a result of these, the developed powders possessed a rhombohedral crystal structure exhibiting a nanocrystalline form with a crystalline size of about 10 nm. The elemental of Bi and Te were developed with their stoichiometric atomic ratio of (30.15):(48.19). Furthermore, the TEM micrographs showed an aggregate phenomenon and the primary crystalline size being quite low. Additionally, the produced Bi2Te3 pellets indicated a smooth surface with an average roughness value of 58 nm according to the AFM image. Absorption has occurred at about a range within 1 (arbitrary unit). Ultimately, the FT-IR demonstrated that the C–H, O–H, C–O, and C–S bonds were similar to the Bi2Te3 nanostructured materials.