Surfactant-mediated electrodeposition of bismuth telluride films and its effect on microstructural properties

We report the synthesis of highly crystallographically textured films of stoichiometric bismuth telluride (Bi(2)Te(3)) in the presence of a surfactant, sodium lignosulfonate (SL), that resulted in the improved alignment of films in the (110) plane and offered good control over the morphology and roughness of the electrodeposited films. SL concentrations in the range 60-80 mg dm(-3) at a deposition potential of -0.1 V vs SCE (saturated calomel electrode) were found to yield the most improved crystallinity and similar or superior thermoelectric properties compared with results reported in the literature.