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“Thin films of (Bi0.15Sb0.85)(2)Te-3 were prepared by dc magnetron sputter deposition on different
substrates. It is well known that thermal treatment of as-deposited p-type (Bi0.15Sb0.85)(2)Te-3 films leads to an enhancement of the power factor. Whereas up to now only the initial (as deposited ) and the final (after annealing) film stages have been investigated, here, the dynamic changes of sputter-deposited film properties have been observed by in situ measurements. The enhancement of the power factor shows a significant dependence on thermal treatment. The best thermoelectric films have been prepared at a substrate temperature of 170 degrees C, with a power factor of 24.4 mu W/(cm K-2 ). The changes in the Seebeck and Hall coefficients are caused by the enhancement in the Hall mobility after annealing. In situ x-ray diffractometry shows the generation of additional Te in dependence of the temperature. This is also selleck chemicals confirmed by energy-dispersive x-ray microanalysis and the corresponding mapping in a scanning electron microscope. It is supposed that the locally well-defined Te enrichment is the reason for the improvement in the integral film transport properties. (C) 2009
American Institute of Physics. (doi: 10.1063/1.3225610)”
“The influence of adding ortho-phenylenediamine (OPDA) during the polymerization of aniline on the characteristics of the resulting polymer film was examined. When using a platinum Cyclosporin A manufacturer electrode,
the deposits were obtained from solutions containing 0.1 mol dm(-3) aniline and 1, 5, or 10 mmol dm(-3) OPDA. The deposits were also prepared from solutions containing 0.5 mol dm(-3) aniline and 5, 10, or 50 mmol dm(-3) OPDA. Selleck AL3818 In both cases, 3 mol dm(-3) phosphoric acid solution was used as a supporting electrolyte. The characteristics of the obtained layers were investigated through the catalytic effect of different polymer layers on hydroquinone/quinone (H(2)Q/Q) test redox system. The results obtained confirm the earlier established catalytic effect on the potential of the redox reaction by shifting it to more reversible values. However, as the concentration of OPDA was increased, the resulting limiting current decreased, thus indicating in the presence of OPDA a lower population of the available active centers necessary for the catalytic reaction to proceed. The influence of OPDA on polymer characteristics was also studied by using scanning electron microscopy as well as electronchemical impedance spectroscopy. The polymer was synthesized on a stainless steel electrode (13% Cr) from a solution containing 0.5 mol dm(-3) aniline and 5, 10, or 50 mmol dm(-3) OPDA. The layers were tested in chloride-containing solutions by monitoring the open circuit potential. The results obtained suggest that, by increasing the concentration of OPDA, the time of OCP in the passive region of stainless steel is prolonged. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.