Low interface resistance and excellent anti-oxidation of Al/Cu/Ni multilayer thin-film electrodes for Bi2Te3-based modules. (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Hongyu; Mu, Xin; Zhao, Wenyu; Tang, Dingguo; Wei, Ping; Zhu, Wanting; Nie, Xiaolei; Zhang, Qingjie
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 40(2017:Oct.)
• Page Start: 274
• Page End: 281
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: Bi2Te3 module -- Thin-film electrode -- Interfacial resistance -- Anti-oxidation; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.08.034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Exploring high-performance multilayer electrodes is very important to improve the conversion efficiency of Bi2 Te3 -based modules. Here, an Al/Cu/Ni multilayer thin-film electrode with low interface resistance and excellent anti-oxidation was designed and fabricated on Bi2 Te2.7 Se0.3 (BTS) legs through vacuum evaporation method. X-ray diffraction, electron probe microanalyzer, field emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and resistance measurements have been employed to investigate the impacts of Ni transition layer (TL) and Al protective layer (PL) on the phase composition, microstructure, interface resistance and anti-oxidation of the electrode. It was found that the Ni TL can significantly lower the interface resistance through improving the lattice match of interface between Cu and BTS. The Cu monolayer and Cu/Ni bilayer thin-film electrodes have very poor anti-oxidation; while the Al/Cu/Ni multilayer thin-film electrode exhibits excellent anti-oxidation because the dense Al2 O3 layer covering on the surface of the Al PL can effectively prevent from the further oxidation. Graphical abstract: Highlights: The electrodes of Bi2 Te3 modules with multilayer structure are fabricated. Lower contact resistance was obtained by inserting Ni layer in Cu/Bi2 Te2.7 Se0.3 . The epitaxial growth models were proposed based on the XRD results. The Al/Ni/Cu electrodes showed high anti-oxidation after annealing in air at 473 K. Formation of dense Al2 O3 layer is responsible for the excellent anti-oxidation.