Intrinsically Low Thermal Conductivity and High Carrier Mobility in Dual Topological Quantum Material,n-Type BiTe

A challenge in thermoelectrics is to achieve intrinsically low thermal conductivity in crystalline solids while maintaining a high carrier mobility (μ). Topological quantum materials, such as the topological insulator (TI) or topological crystalline insulator (TCI) can exhibit high μ. Weak topological insulators (WTI) are of interest because of their layered hetero-structural nature which has a low lattice thermal conductivity (κ_lat). BiTe, a unique member of the (Bi₂)_m(Bi₂Te₃)_n homologous series (m:n=1:2), has both the quantum states, TCI and WTI, which is distinct from the conventional strong TI, Bi₂Te₃ (where m:n=0:1). Herein, we report intrinsically low κ_lat of 0.47–0.8 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ in the 300–650 K range in BiTe resulting from low energy optical phonon branches which originate primarily from the localized vibrations of Bi bilayer. It has high μ≈516 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 707 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ along parallel and perpendicular to the spark plasma sintering (SPS) directions, respectively, at room temperature.     

Room-Temperature High-Performance Thermoelectric Bi0.6Sb0.4Te: Elimination of Detrimental Band Inversion in BiTe

Room-temperature thermoelectric materials are the key to miniaturizing refrigeration equipment and have great scientific and social implications, yet their application is hindered by their extreme scarcity. BiTe exhibiting strong spin-orbit coupling peaks ZT at 600 K. Herein, we discover the synergy effect of Sb doping in BiTe that eliminates the detrimental band inversion and leads to an overlap of conduction band (CB) and valence band that significantly increases the S from 33 to 124 μV K⁻¹. In addition, this effect enhances the μ from 58 to 92 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ owing to the sharp increase in the CB slope along the Γ-A in the first Brillouin zone. Furthermore, Sb doping increases the anharmonicity, shortens the phonon lifetime and lowers κ_lat. Finally, Se/Sb codoping further optimizes the ZT to 0.6 at 300 K, suggesting that Bi_0.6Sb_0.4Te_1−ySe_y is a potential room-temperature TE material.     

Solution‐Based Synthesis of Layered Intergrowth Compounds of the Homologous PbmBi2nTe3n+m Series as Nanosheets

Layered intergrowth compounds in the homologous Pb_mBi_2nTe_3n+m family are interesting because they are examples of natural heterostructures. We present a simple solution‐based synthesis of two‐dimensional nanosheets of PbBi₂Te₄, Pb₂Bi₂Te₅, and PbBi₆Te₁₀ layered intergrowth compounds, which are members of the Pb_mBi_2nTe_3n+m [that is, (PbTe)_m(Bi₂Te₃)_n] homologous series. Few‐layer nanosheets exhibit narrow optical band gaps (0.25–0.7 eV) with semiconducting electronic‐transport properties.     

Synthetic Nanosheets of Natural van der Waals Heterostructures

Creation of new van der Waals heterostructures by stacking different two dimensional (2D) crystals on top of each other in a chosen sequence is the next challenge after the discovery of graphene, mono/few layer of h ‐BN, and transition‐metal dichalcogenides. However, chemical syntheses of van der Waals heterostructures are rarer than the physical preparation techniques. Herein, we demonstrate the kinetic stabilization of 2D ultrathin heterostructure (ca. 1.13–2.35 nm thick) nanosheets of layered intergrowth SnBi₂Te₄, SnBi₄Te₇, and SnBi₆Te₁₀, which belong to the Sn_m Bi_2n Te_{3n +m} homologous series, by a simple solution based synthesis. Few‐layer nanosheets exhibit ultralow lattice thermal conductivity (κ _lat) of 0.3–0.5 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ and semiconducting electron‐transport properties with high carrier mobility.     

Structural and thermal properties of chemically synthesized Bi2Te3 nanoparticles

Bi₂Te₃ nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized at 50?°C by a low-cost wet chemical route. The structural properties of product sample were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy. Thermal properties of product sample were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric (TG), and transient plane source techniques. The XRD and selected area electron diffraction of Bi₂Te₃ NPs result showed the polycrystalline nature with a rhombohedral (R3m) structure of the nanocrystallites. The average grain size of Bi₂Te₃ NPs was found to be about 30?nm by XRD and TEM measurements. DSC result shows one endothermic peak and one exothermic peak. TG result shows that only 48?% mass loss has occurred in Bi₂Te₃ sample. The obtained lower thermal conductivity of Bi₂Te₃ NPs is about 0.3?W m^?1 K^?1 at room temperature, which is caused by considering the crystalline nature of this material.     

An convenient strategy for IgG electrochemical immunosensor: the platform of topological insulator materials Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Se<Subscript>3</Subscript> and ionic liquid

A substantial outstanding challenge in diagnostics and disease monitoring is the ability to assay rapidly and conveniently for protein biomarkers within complex biological media. Bi₂Se₃, as an important topological insulator (TI) material, was synthesized by a solvothermal method and characterized structurally. Subsequently, the composite of Bi₂Se₃ and ionic liquid ([BMIm]BF₄ IL) was used as a sensing interface to cross-link goat anti-human immunoglobulin G (anti-IgG) via glutaraldehyde (GA) to fabricate an Bi₂Se₃/IL/GA/anti-IgG-carbon paste electrode (CPE). The nonspecific binding sites were enclosed with bovine serum albumin (BSA) to develop a label-free IgG immunosensor. The result showed that the proposed label-free IgG immunosensor exhibited high specificity with a detection limit of 0.8 ng mL^?1 and linear range from 2 to 300, and 300 to 2200 ng mL^?1. Besides, the immunosensor exhibited high specificity for IgG detection, acceptable reproducibility, and stability. Thus, the strategy reported here paved a simple way to design a sensitive and cost-effective sensing platform for extension to other disease biomarkers.     

拓扑绝缘体二维纳米结构与器件

拓扑绝缘体是一种全新的量子功能材料, 具有绝缘性体能带结构和受时间反演对称性保护的自旋分辨的金属表面态, 属于Dirac 粒子系统, 将在新原理纳电子器件、自旋器件、量子计算、表面催化和清洁能源等方面有广泛的应用前景. 理论和实验相继证实Sb₂Te₃, Bi₂Se₃和Bi₂Te₃单晶具有较大的体能隙和单一Dirac 锥表面态, 已经迅速成为了拓扑绝缘体研究中的热点材料. 然而, 利用传统的高温烧结法所制成的拓扑绝缘体单晶块体样品常存在大量本征缺陷并被严重掺杂, 拓扑表面态的新奇性质很容易被体载流子掩盖. 拓扑绝缘体二维纳米结构具有超高比表面积和能带结构的可调控性, 能显著降低体态载流子的比例和凸显拓扑表面态, 并易于制备高结晶质量的单晶样品, 各种低维异质结构以及平面器件. 近年来, 我们一直致力于发展拓扑绝缘体二维纳米结构的控制生长方法和物性研究. 我们发展了拓扑绝缘体二维纳米结构的范德华外延方法, 实现了高质量大比表面积的拓扑绝缘体二维纳米结构的可控制备, 并实现了定点与定向的表面生长. 开展拓扑绝缘体二维纳米结构的谱学研究, 利用角分辨光电子能谱直接观察到拓扑绝缘体狄拉克锥形的表面电子能带结构, 发现了拉曼强度与位移随层数的依赖关系. 设计并构建拓扑绝缘体纳米结构器件, 系统研究其新奇物性, 观测到拓扑绝缘体Bi₂Se₃表面态的Aharonov-Bohm (AB)量子干涉效应等新奇量子现象, 通过栅电压实现了拓扑绝缘体纳米薄片化学势的调控, 并将拓扑绝缘体纳米结构应用于柔性透明导电薄膜. 本文首先简单介绍拓扑绝缘体的发展现状, 然后系统介绍我们开展的拓扑绝缘体二维纳米结构的范德华外延生长、谱学、电学输运特性以及透明柔性导电薄膜应用的研究, 最后对该领域所面临的机遇和挑战进行简要的展望.     

Polymere,bandförmige Tellurkationen in den Strukturen des Chloroberyllats Te7[Be2Cl6] und des Chlorobismutats (Te4)(Te10)[Bi4Cl16]

Polymeric, Band Shaped Tellurium Cations in the Structures of the Chloroberyllate Te₇[Be₂Cl₆] and the Chlorobismutate (Te₄)(Te₁₀)[Bi₄Cl₁₆] Te₇[Be₂Cl₆] is obtained at 250 °C in an eutectic Na₂[BeCl₄] / BeCl₂ melt from Te, TeCl₄ und BeCl₂ in form of black crystals, which are sensitive towards hydrolysis in moist air. (Te₄) (Te₁₀)[Bi₄Cl₁₆] is prepared from Te, TeCl₄ und BiCl₃ by chemical vapour transport in sealed evacuated glass ampoules in a temperature gradient 150 ° → 90 °Cin form of needle shaped crystals with a silver lustre. The structures of both compounds were determined based on single crystal X‐ray diffraction data (Te₇[Be₂Cl₆]: orthorhombic, Pnnm, Z = 2, a = 541.60(3), b = 974.79(6), c = 1664.4(1) pm; (Te₄)(Te₁₀)[Bi₄Cl₁₆]: triclinic, P1¯, Z = 2, a = 547.2(3), b = 1321.1(7), c = 1490(1) pm, α = 102.09(5)°, β = 95.05(5)°, γ = 96.69(4)°). The structure of Te₇[Be₂Cl₆] consists of one‐dimensional polymeric cations (Te₇²⁺)_n which form folded bands and of discrete [Be₂Cl₆]^2— anions which form double tetrahedraconnected by a common edge. By a different way of folding compared with the cations present in the structures of Te₇[MOX₄]X (M = Nb, W; X = Cl, Br) the (Te₇²⁺)_n cation in Te₇[Be₂Cl₆]represents a new, isomeric form. The structure of (Te₄)(Te₁₀)[Bi₄Cl₁₆] contains two different polymeric cations. (Te₁₀²⁺)_n consists of planar Te₁₀ groups in the form of three corner‐sharing Te₄ rings connected to folded bands. (Te₄²⁺)_n forms in contrast to the so far notoriously observed discrete, square‐planar E₄²⁺ ions a chain of rectangular planar Te₄ rings (Te—Te 274 and 281 pm) connected by Te‐Te bonds of 297 pm. [Bi₄Cl₁₆]^4— has a complex one‐dimensional structure of edge‐ and corner‐sharing BiCl₇ units.     

Time‐Resolved Assembly of Cluster‐in‐Cluster {Ag12}‐in‐{W76} Polyoxometalates under Supramolecular Control

We report the time‐resolved supramolecular assembly of a series of nanoscale polyoxometalate clusters (from the same one‐pot reaction) of the form: [H_(10+m)Ag₁₈Cl(Te₃W₃₈O₁₃₄)₂]_n, where n=1 and m=0 for compound 1 (after 4 days), n=2 and m=3 for compound 2 (after 10 days), and n=∞ and m=5 for compound 3 (after 14 days). The reaction is based upon the self‐organization of two {Te₃W₃₈} units around a single chloride template and the formation of a {Ag₁₂} cluster, giving a {Ag₁₂}‐in‐{W₇₆} cluster‐in‐cluster in compound 1 , which further aggregates to cluster compounds 2 and 3 by supramolecular Ag‐POM interactions. The proposed mechanism for the formation of the clusters has been studied by ESI‐MS. Further, control experiments demonstrate the crucial role that TeO₃^2?, Cl^?, and Ag⁺ play in the self‐assembly of compounds 1 – 3 .     

Highly Porous Thermoelectric Nanocomposites with Low Thermal Conductivity and High Figure of Merit from Large‐Scale Solution‐Synthesized Bi2Te2.5Se0.5 Hollow Nanostructures

To enhance the performance of thermoelectric materials and enable access to their widespread applications, it is beneficial yet challenging to synthesize hollow nanostructures in large quantities, with high porosity, low thermal conductivity (κ ) and excellent figure of merit (z T ). Herein we report a scalable (ca. 11.0 g per batch) and low‐temperature colloidal processing route for Bi₂Te_2.5Se_0.5 hollow nanostructures. They are sintered into porous, bulk nanocomposites (phi 10 mm×h 10 mm) with low κ (0.48 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹) and the highest z T (1.18) among state‐of‐the‐art Bi₂Te_3−x Se_x materilas. Additional benefits of the unprecedented low relative density (68–77 %) are the large demand reduction of raw materials and the improved portability. This method can be adopted to fabricate other porous phase‐transition and thermoelectric chalcogenide materials and will pave the way for the implementation of hollow nanostructures in other fields.     

Unexpected Room‐Temperature Ferromagnetism in Nanostructured Bi2Te3

There is an urgent need for the development in the field of the magnetism of topological insulators, owing to the necessity for the realization of the quantum anomalous Hall effect. Herein, we discuss experimentally fabricated nanostructured hierarchical architectures of the topological insulator Bi₂Te₃ without the introduction of any exotic magnetic dopants, in which intriguing room‐temperature ferromagnetism was identified. First‐principles calculations demonstrated that the intrinsic point defect with respect to the antisite Te site is responsible for the creation of a magnetic moment. Such a mechanism, which is different from that of a vacancy defect, provides new insights into the origins of magnetism. Our findings may pave the way for developing future Bi₂Te₃‐based dissipationless spintronics and fault‐tolerant quantum computation.     

Isolatable Organophosphorus(III)–Tellurium Heterocycles

A new structural arrangement Te₃(RP^III)₃ and the first crystal structures of organophosphorus(III)–tellurium heterocycles are presented. The heterocycles can be stabilized and structurally characterized by the appropriate choice of substituents in Te_m(P^IIIR)_n (m=1: n=2, R=OMes* (Mes*=supermesityl or 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl); n=3, R=adamantyl (Ad); n=4, R=ferrocene (Fc); m=n=3: R=trityl (Trt), Mesor by the installation of a P^V₂N₂ anchor in RP^III[TeP^V(tBuN)(μ‐NtBu)]₂ (R=Ad, tBu).     

Tuning Optimum Temperature Range of Bi2Te3‐Based Thermoelectric Materials by Defect Engineering

Bi₂Te₃‐based solid solutions, which have been widely used as thermoelectric (TE) materials for the room temperature TE refrigeration, are also the potential candidates for the power generators with medium and low‐temperature heat sources. Therefore, depending on the applications, Bi₂Te₃‐based materials are expected to exhibit excellent TE properties in different temperature ranges. Manipulating the point defects in Bi₂Te₃‐based materials is an effective and important method to realize this purpose. In this review, we focus on how to optimize the TE properties of Bi₂Te₃‐based TE materials in different temperature ranges by defect engineering. Our calculation results of two‐band model revel that tuning the carrier concentration and band gap, which is easily realized by defects engineering, can obtain better TE properties at different temperatures. Then, the typical paradigms about optimizing the TE properties at different temperatures for n‐type and p‐type Bi₂Te₃‐based ZM ingots and polycrystals are discussed in the perspective of defects engineering. This review can provide the guidance to improve the TE properties of Bi₂Te₃‐based materials at different temperatures by defects engineering.     

Modified Tellurium Subhalides in the New Structure Type [Te15X4]n[MOX4]2n (M = Mo,W; X = Cl,Br)

The reactions of Te₂Br with MoOBr₃, TeCl₄ with MoNCl₂/MoOCl₃, and Te with WBr₅/WOBr₃ yield black, needle-like crystals of [Te₁₅X₄][MOX₄]₂ (M = Mo, W; X = Cl, Br). The crystal structure determinations [Te₁₅Br₄][MoOBr₄]₂: monoclinic, Z = 1, C2/m, a = 1595.9(4) pm, b = 403.6(1) pm, c = 1600.4(4) pm, β = 112.02(2)°; [Te₁₅Cl₄][MoOCl₄]₂: C2/m, a = 1535.3(5) pm, b = 402.8(2) pm, c = 1569.6(5) pm, β = 112.02(2)°; [Te₁₅Br₄][WOBr₄]₂: C2, a = 1592.4(4) pm, b = 397.5(1) pm, c = 1593.4(5) pm, β = 111.76(2)° show that all three compounds are isotypic and consist of one-dimensional ([Te₁₅X₄]²⁺)_n and ([MOX₄]^?)_n strands. The structures of the cationic strands are closely related to the tellurium subhalides Te₂X (X = Br, I). One of the two rows of halogen atoms that bridges the band of condensed Te₆ rings is stripped off, and additionally one Te position has only 75% occupancy which leads to the formula ([Te₁₅X₄]²⁺)_n (X = Cl, Br) for the cation. The anionic substructures consist of tetrahalogenooxometalate ions [MOX₄]^? that are linked by linear oxygen bridges to polymeric strands. The compounds are paramagnetic with one unpaired electron per metal atom indicating oxidation state M^v, and are weak semiconductors.     

Solvothermal Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Te8[U2Br10], Containing a Polymeric Chalcogen Cation (Te82+)n

Under solvothermal conditions, the reaction of Te, TeBr₄ and UBr₅ in SiBr₄ at 200?C yields Te₈[U₂Br₁₀] as silvery crystals. The crystal structure (triclinic, P&1macr;, a = 900.8(4), b = 1205.1(5), c = 1366.0(6) pm, α = 80.93(4)?, β = 76.83(3)?, γ = 78.84(3)?, Z = 2) is built of one‐dimensional polymeric (Te₈²⁺)_n cations consisting of boat‐shaped Te₆ rings, which are linked by Te₂ bridges. The anions [U₂Br₁₀^2‐]_n are also polymeric, consisting of edge sharing UBr₇ pentagonal bipyramids [UBr₃Br_4/2^2‐]_n and contain U(IV). Both chains are parallel to each other and run along the crystallographic a‐axis. The cation represents a formerly unknown isomer of Te₈²⁺ ions. So far, Te₈²⁺ has been known as molecular clusters in Te₈[MCl₆](M = Zr, Hf, Re) and (Te₈)(Te₆)[WCl₆]₄, or in form of linked bicyclic monomers that are present in Te₈[WCl₆]₂. A polymeric chain‐like form closely related to Te₈[U₂Br₁₀] was found in Te₈[Bi₄Cl₁₄].     

A New Strategy for Realizing the Conversion of “Homo–Hetero–Homo” Heteroepitaxial Growth in Bi2Te3 and the Thermoelectric Performance

Uncovering the reason for structure‐dependent thermoelectric performance still remains a big challenge. A low‐temperature and easily scalable strategy for synthesizing Bi₂Te₃ nanostring hierarchical structures through solution‐phase reactions, during which there is the conversion of “homo–hetero–homo” in Bi₂Te₃ heteroepitaxial growth, is reported. Bi₂Te₃ nanostrings are obtained through the transformation from pure Bi₂Te₃ hexagonal nanosheets followed by Te?Bi₂Te₃ “nanotop” heterostructures to Bi₂Te₃ nanostrings. The growth of Bi₂Te₃ nanostrings appears to be a self‐assembly process through a wavy competition process generated from Te and Bi³⁺. The conversion of homo–hetero–homo opens up new platforms to investigate the wet chemistry of Bi₂Te₃ nanomaterials. Furthermore, to study the effect of morphologies and hetero/homo structures, especially with the same origin and uniform conditions on their thermoelectric properties, the thermoelectric properties of Bi₂Te₃ nanostrings and Te?Bi₂Te₃ heterostructured pellets fabricated by spark plasma sintering have been investigated separately.     

Synthesis and structure of cis-[RuCl(bpzm)(κ1-P-dpim)(κ2-P,N-dpim)]Cl·(CHCl3)5. Stability of [Cl(HCCl3) n ]− aggregates

The reaction of [RuCl₂(cod)(bpzm)] [cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, bpzm = bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane] with 2-diphenylphosphino-1-methylimidazole (dpim) and crystallisation from CHCl₃ yielded crystals of cis-[RuCl(κ²-N,N-bpzm)(κ¹-P-dpim)(κ²-P,N-dpim)][Cl(CHCl₃)₄]·CHCl₃, (1√(CHCl₃)₅), in which the Cl^?  counteranion was solvated by four CHCl₃ molecules and interacted with the most positive region of the cation. The structure of the anionic entity and the presence of non-covalent interactions were studied. Theoretical calculations allowed the evaluation of the stability of [Cl(CHCl₃) _n ]^?  aggregates. A pronounced stability was found for aggregates with n = 6 with an increasing charge transfer from the chloride ion to the CHCl₃ molecules from n = 1 to 6. A literature survey on the occurrence of anionic species [Cl(CXCl₃) _n (HB) _m ]^?  (X = H or D; HB = hydrogen bonds with the cation) in solid state structures was carried out and the findings correlated with the results of computational studies. A stabilisation effect of a Cl…Cl interaction was demonstrated by a natural bond orbitals (NBO) analysis.     

SnSbBiTe4-2Bi2Te3 join of the SnTe-Bi2Te3-Sb2Te3 quasi-ternary system

This is the first study of the SnSbBiTe₄-2Bi₂Te₃ join of the SnTe-Bi₂Te₃-Sb₂Te₃ quasi-ternary system by the methods of complex physicochemical analysis over a wide range of concentrations. A phase diagram was constructed for the title quasi-binary join. The system was found to be of the eutectic type; the eutectic coordinates are 65 mol % Bi₂Te₃ and 675 K. The starting components were shown to form solid solutions with extents of 20 mol %. Alloys with compositions lying within the Bi₂Te₃-based solid solution region were found to be n-type semiconductors.     

The Influence of Nanoscale Heterostructures on the Thermoelectric Properties of Bi‐substituted Tl5Te3

Tl_4.5Bi_0.5Te₃ crystallizes in a distorted variant of the Tl₅Te₃ structure type in the space group I4/m. The symmetry reduction compared to Tl₅Te₃ (space group I4/mcm) is a consequence of cation ordering as shown by resonant X‐ray scattering using synchrotron radiation. Tl and Bi predominantly occupy one Wyckoff site each. This ordering is accompanied by displacements of Te atoms. The influence of nanostructuring on the thermoelectric performance of Tl_4.5Bi_0.5Te₃ was investigated for the new composite model system Tl_4.5Bi_0.5Te₃ – TlInTe₂. For the nominal composition (Tl_4.5Bi_0.5Te₃)_0.6(TlInTe₂)_0.4, the thermoelectric Figure of merit ZT reaches 0.8 at 325 °C. Nanoscaled precipitates with sizes of about 100–200 nm probably have beneficial influence on the thermal conductivity at this temperature.     

[Hg4Te8(Te2)4]8−: A Heavy Metal Porphyrinoid Embedded in a Lamellar Structure

The use of ionic liquids (C_nC₁Im)[BF₄] with long alkyl chains (n=10, 12) in the ionothermal treatment of Na₂[HgTe₂] led to lamellar crystal structures with molecular macrocyclic anions [Hg₈Te₁₆]^8? ( 1 ), the heaviest known topological relative of porphyrin. [Hg₈Te₁₆]^8? differs from porphyrin by the absence of an electronic π‐system, which prevents a “global” aromaticity. Quantum chemical studies reveal instead small ring currents in the pyrrole‐type five‐membered rings that indicate weak local (σ) aromaticity. As a result of their lamellar nature, the compounds are promising candidates for the formation of sheets containing chalcogenidometalate anions.