Preparation and Characterization of P-Type Bi0.45Sb1.55Te3 Thin Film Using Pulsed CO2 Laser

P-type Bi0.45Sb1.55Te3 thermoelectric material was synthesized using cold pressing process. The obtained sample was prepared in the form of pellet with a diameter of 10 mm and 2 mm thick and used as a target for laser ablation. The laser source was a pulsed CO2 laser working at a wave- length of 10.6 μm with a laser energy density of 2 J/cm 2 per pulse. P-type Bi0.45Sb1.55Te3 thermoe- lectric thin films were deposited on Si substrates for different ablation times of 1, 2 and 3 h. The cross-section and surface morphologies of the thermoelectric films were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The results show that the thickness and average particle size of the films increased from 35 to 58 nm, and 28 to 35 nm, respectively, when the abla- tion time was increased from 1 to 3 h. The crystalline structure of the TE films was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD).