Thermoelectric Properties of Sb2Te3 Thin Films by Electron Beam Evaporation

This study applies the thermoelectric grains of Sb2Te3 on conductive glass to evaporate Sb2Te3 thin films by the electron beam evaporation method. Through experimental tests with different evaporation process parameters and film annealing conditions, thin films with better Seebeck coefficient, resistivity (rho) and power fact (PF) can be obtained. Experimental results show that when thin films are annealed, their defects can be decreased accordingly, and carrier mobility can be enhanced to further elevate the conductivity of thin films. When the substrate temperature is set at 200 degrees C to fabricate Sb2Te3 thin films by the evaporation process and by annealing at 220 degrees C for 60 minutes, the Seebeck coefficient of Sb2Te3 thin films increase from 87.6 mu V/K to 177.7 mu V/K; resistivity falls from 6.21 m Omega-cm to 2.53 m Omega-cm and PF can achieve the maximum value of 1.24 10(-3) W/K-2 m. Finally, this study attempts to add indium (In) to Sb2Te3 thin films. Indium has been successfully fabricated In3SbTe2 thin films. This study also analyzes the effects of In on the thermoelectric properties of In3SbTe2 thin films.