Keshavarz 2018

Arabian Journal of Chemistry (2018) xxx, xxx–xxx
King Saud University
Arabian Journal of Chemistry

www.ksu.edu.sa
www.sciencedirect.com
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Electrochemical response of n-type bismuth

telluride based thermoelectric materials in NaCl
solutions: A comparison between a single-phase
alloy and a nanocomposite containing MoS2
nano-particles
Mohsen K. Keshavarz a, Arash Fattah-alhosseini b,*
a
Department of Mining & Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec (QC) H3A 0C5, Canada
b
Department of Materials Engineering, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan 65178-38695, Iran
Received 1 November 2017; accepted 30 January 2018
KEYWORDS Abstract This work presents a systematic assessment of electrochemical responses of n-type bis-
Thermoelectrics; muth telluride-based thermoelectric materials in NaCl solutions. A single-phase alloy and a
Nanocomposite; nanocomposite (with embedded MoS2 nanoparticles) produced by means of mechanical alloying
Bismuth telluride; and hot extrusion were investigated. The polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
Corrosion; tests in NaCl solutions revealed that the passivity of the nanocomposite specimen was considerably
Electrochemical impedance improved compared with the coarse-grained single-phase alloy. Mott–Schottky analysis revealed
spectroscopy (EIS); that passive layers of both single-phase alloy and nanocomposite specimens had an n-type semicon-
Mott–Schottky (M–S) ducting behavior, and the donor density reduced in the passive layer of the nanocomposite speci-
analysis men.
Ó 2018 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University. This is an open access
article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
1. Introduction
Thermoelectric (TE) materials, are basically semiconductors,

that can convert heat to electricity and vice versa. These mate-
* Corresponding author. rials are mostly used in the niche applications either as gener-
E-mail address: a.fattah@basu.ac.ir (A. Fattah-alhosseini).
ator or refrigerator (Goldsmid, 2010; Goldsmid and Delves,
Peer review under responsibility of King Saud University.
1961; Goldsmid, 1960). Bismuth telluride-based alloys are
among the well-known thermoelectric (TE) materials due to
their high performance around the room temperature. During
the last six decades, there have been enormous efforts to
Production and hosting by Elsevier improve the efficiency of different families of TE materials to
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2018.01.021
1878-5352 Ó 2018 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Please cite this article in press as: Keshavarz, M.K., Fattah-alhosseini, A. Electrochemical response of n-type bismuth telluride based thermoelectric materials in NaCl
solutions: A comparison between a single-phase alloy and a nanocomposite containing MoS2 nano-particlesn-type bismuth telluride based thermoelectric materials in
NaCl solutions –>. Arabian Journal of Chemistry (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2018.01.021
2 M.K. Keshavarz, A. Fattah-alhosseini
boost their applications. In this regard, within the last decade, run in naturally aerated 0.1 M and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions
researchers have obtained achievements by nanostructuring or at 25 ± 1 °C in a three-electrode flat cell (with SPA and NC
developing nanocomposite (NC) TE materials, especially in specimens as working electrodes, a Pt plate as counter elec-
bismuth telluride based alloys (Poudel et al., 2008; Liu et al., trode, and Ag/AgCl saturated in KCl reference electrode) by
2012; Keshavarz et al., 2013, 2014). While study and improve- using a µAutolab Type III/FRA2 system. The electrochemical
ment of TE properties of these materials have received huge measurements, in both NaCl solutions, were performed after 1
interests, some of their key properties when these materials h immersion of the working electrodes at open circuit potential
are in service, such as mechanical and corrosion properties, (OCP). To obtain potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) curves
have not received sufficient consideration. Bismuth telluride scans with a rate of 1 mV s1 were made starting from 0.25 V
based TE materials have been synthesized and fabricated via (vs. Ecorr) to 0.9 VAg/AgCl. To carry out the electrochemical
electrochemical routes (Tittes et al., 2003; Tittes and Plieth, impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests, excitation potential (peak
2007; Yoo et al., 2005), however, there is a very limited number to peak) of 10 mV and scanning frequencies between 0.01 Hz
of works in the open literature on the electrochemical and cor- and 100 kHz were selected. It is important to note that the
rosion behaviors of bismuth telluride based alloys (Zimmer EIS tests were done at OCP condition. To fit the curves and
et al., 2008; Rosalbino et al., 2013). In the present work, we model the data, NOVA 2.1.0 software was used. Lastly, M–S
compared the electrochemical behaviors of an n-type single- analysis was performed using a 10 mV AC signal in the catho-
phase bismuth telluride based quaternary alloy with a NC dic direction with 1 kHz frequency and potential step of 25
counterpart consisted of the primary single-phase alloy mV.
(SPA) as its matrix, embedded with MoS2 nano-particles.
The comprehensive studies on other properties of these mate- 3. Results and discussions
rials, including their TE properties can be found in Keshavarz
et al. (2014) and Keshavarz Khorasgani (2014)). 3.1. Microstructural analysis
Our systematic study includes evaluation of the electro-
chemical responses of n-type SPA and NC bismuth telluride
The phase composition of bulk SPA and NC specimens were
based TE materials in 0.58 wt% (0.1 M) and 3.5 wt% NaCl
characterized by XRD Fig. 1). The patterns of both SPA
solutions, and Mott–Schottky (M–S) analysis.
and NC specimens were well fitted with the reference pattern
of (Bi0.95Sb0.05)2(Te0.95Se0.05)3 phase. This certifies that there
2. Experimental procedures was no chemical reaction between matrix phase and MoS2
nanoparticles during mixing and/or hot extrusion processes.
2.1. Samples processing In addition, variation in the peaks intensities can be observed
in the NC pattern compared to that of the SPA. This can be
attributed to alteration of crystallographic texture in the spec-
Nanostructured powders of n-type (Bi0.95Sb0.05)2(Te0.95Se0.05)3
imens. Bismuth telluride has an anisotropic crystal structure
alloy was prepared from high purity (99.999%) shots of Bi, Sb,
(Goldsmid, 2010). Consequently, a crystallographic texture
Se, and Te (5N Plus) by mechanical alloying using an attritor.
will be established in the bulk bismuth telluride due to the
The MoS2 nano-particles (99.99% purity, MKnano) were
extrusion process (Vasilevskiy et al., 2002). However, addition
added (0.3 wt%) to the alloyed powder and mixed for 1 h to
of MoS2 nanoparticles led to modification in the texture of NC
obtain the NC powder mixture. The SPA powder, as well as
specimens to some extent. Similar observation has been
NC powder mixture, was consolidated using the hot extrusion
reported for extruded p-type bismuth telluride based NCs with
method at around 680 K. The products were in form of circu-
embedded MoS2 nanoparticles (Keshavarz et al., 2016).
lar cross-section rods with 1-inch (2.54 cm) diameter and
lengths about 1 foot (30.5 cm). A detailed description of the
synthesis procedure can be found in Keshavarz et al. (2014).
2.2. Microstructural characterization
Chemical composition of the SPA and NC specimens were

assessed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) using a Philips X’Pert
apparatus equipped with a copper anode. High resolution
scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was implemented with
a JEOL JSM-7600 TFE instrument to evaluate the microstruc-
ture of the specimens. The nano-scale structural and elemental
composition analyses were carried out using a JEOL JEM-
2100F high-resolution transmission electron microscope
(HRTEM) including an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry
(EDS).
2.3. Electrochemical tests
Fig. 1 XRD patterns of extruded n-type SPA and NC specimens

The surfaces of both SPA and NC specimens were polished compared with the reference pattern of (Bi0.95Sb0.05)2(Te0.95Se0.05)3
and cleaned prior to the electrochemical tests. The tests were phase.
Electrochemical response of n-type bismuth telluride based thermoelectric materials in NaCl solutions 3
Fig. 2 shows fracture surfaces of n-type SPA and NC spec-

imens. A clear grain size reduction due to MoS2 nanoparticles
addition in the NC specimen is illustrated. This result confirms
that introducing MoS2 nanoparticles to the n-type SPA inhi-
bits the matrix grain growth during hot extrusion. Nanoparti-
cles of MoS2 pin the grain boundaries and impede further
grain boundaries migration when the material is exposed to
high temperature. This phenomenon is known as Zener pin-
ning (Nes et al., 1985).
HRTEM observations indicated that MoS2 nanoparticles
with few nanometers length and thickness of few atomic layers
are dispersed at the grain boundaries within the matrix Fig. 3).
EDS patterns of areas containing nanoparticles (e.g. indicated
in Fig. 3 (a)) exhibited the presence of Mo and S in the
nanoparticles Fig. 3 (b)). The intense Cu peaks in the EDS pat-
tern is originated from the Cu grid in the HRTEM specimen
holder.
3.2. PDP measurements
Fig. 4 depicts the Pourbaix diagram for Bi-Te system at 25 °C

(Martin-Gonzalez et al., 2002). Based on this diagram, Bi2Te3
demonstrates a passive behavior in a limited potential range
for pHs from 3 to 7.5. Hence, to investigate the electrochemical
properties of the passive layer, the two 0.58 wt% (0.1 M) and
3.5 wt% NaCl solutions with a pH of 7.2 were selected.
According to the Porbaix diagram, for the potentials higher
than -1 (V), the behavior of Bi2Te3 compound in these two
solutions can be described in four regions:
Fig. 3 (a) HRTEM image of a MoS2 nanoparticle at the matrix

grains’ boundaries in an extruded nanocomposite, (b) EDS pattern
of marked area in panel (a).
Potential/ VNHE
Immunity
Bi2Te3
Corrosion
H2Te, BiH3 Corrosion
HTe-, BiH3 Corrosion
Te2-, BiH3
pH
Fig. 4 Pourbaix diagram for Bi-Te at 25 °C (Martin-Gonzalez

et al., 2002).
(1) In the potentials from 1 to +0.2 (V); the compound is

in immunity region and no corrosion products will be
Fig. 2 Fracture surfaces of (a) SPA, and (b) NC specimens. formed on the surface.
(2) In potentials from +0.2 to +0.6 (V); bismuth and tel-

(a)
lurium oxides (Bi2O3 and TeO2) will form on the surface
Corrosion current density/ µA.cm-2

that will play a protective role.
(3) In potentials from +0.6 to +1 (V); TeO2 will turn to
hydrogentellurate (HO4Te), but Bi2O3 will continue
its protective performance.
(4) Eventually, in the fourth region (potentials higher than
+1 (V)), Bi2O3 will be electrolyzed and Bi2O5 forms.
The stability of the formed passive layer on bismuth tel-

luride depends on the microstructure of the material and the
chemical composition of corrosive solution. To study these
parameters, PDP tests were carried out and their results are n-SPA n-NC
presented in this section
PDP curves of extruded n-type SPA and NC specimens in (b)
0.1 M and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions are illustrated in Fig. 5.
Corrosion potential/ VAg/AgCl

It showed that both SPA and NC specimens are spontaneously
passivated in both NaCl solutions. Also, the PDP plots showed
that the passivity of the NC specimen was considerably
enhanced in both NaCl solutions compared to that of
coarse-grained SPA. Considering the passivation process, it
can be noted from Fig. 5 that the value of passive current den-
sity for NC specimen is lower than that of SPA specimen,
which means that the passive film covered on the surface of
NC specimen showed higher protective characteristics.
Fig. 6 depicts the changes in the corrosion potential and n-SPA n-NC
corrosion current density of both extruded n-type SPA and
Fig. 6 (a) Corrosion current density, and (b) corrosion potential
of extruded n-type SPA and NC specimens in 0.1 M and 3.5 wt%
NaCl solutions.
NC specimens in NaCl solutions. The Tafel extrapolation

was used to obtain the corrosion current density. In this
Potential/ VAg/AgCl
regard, the linear part for the cathodic branch back to the cor-
rosion potential was studied (Burstein, 2005). Fig. 6(a) reveales
that the corrosion current density of the NC specimen was sig-
nificantly decreased compared with the coarse-grained SPA in
NaCl solutions. Moreover, Fig. 6(b) shows that the corrosion
potential of the NC specimen was increased compared to that
of SPA in both NaCl solutions. In other words, the NC spec-
(a) imen showed a more noble value of the corrosion potential
compared to the SPA specimen. This suggests that the NC
specimen possesses lower active dissolution ability. Fig. 6
Current density/ A.cm-2
clearly shows that corrosion resistance of the NC specimen
in the 0.1 M NaCl solution was significantly higher than that
of the SPA specimen. However, in the solution with higher cor-
rosivity (i.e. 3.5 wt% NaCl) while the corrosion resistance was
improved in the NC specimen, but, the enhancement is much
less pronounced compared to the observed improvement in
Potential/ VAg/AgCl
the 0.1 M NaCl solution. Indeed, these results revealed that

n-type bismuth telluride NC specimen showed more suitable
performance, in terms of corrosion resistance in NaCl solu-
tions in comparison to the conventional SPA.
3.3. EIS measurements

(b)
The Nyquist and Bode plots of extruded n-type SPA and NC

-2
specimens in 0.1 M and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions are illustrated
Current density/ A.cm
in Fig. 7. All the Nyquist and Bode plots have similar profiles.
Fig. 5 PDP curves of extruded n-type SPA and NC specimens in The Nyquist plots show imperfect semicircles. Moreover, the
(a) 0.1 M and (b) 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions. Bode plots depict that at high frequencies specimens had resis-
(a)
-Phase / Degree
-Zimag / Ω.cm2
Z / Ω.cm2
(b)
Zreal /Ω.cm2 Frequency/ Hz
(c)
-Phase / Degree
-Zimag / Ω.cm2
Z / Ω.cm2
(d)
Zreal /Ω.cm2 Frequency/ Hz
Fig. 7 EIS plots for extruded n-type SPA and NC specimens in (a, b) 0.1 M and (c, d) 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions.
RP
tive response, but a noticeable capacitive behavior in the mid-
dle to low frequency range was observed. Also, in the interme-
diate frequencies, the Bode-phase plots showed a constant
phase performance.
As the concentration of NaCl decreased, the low frequency
RS
impedance in both SPA and NC specimens increased, and the QP
phase angle improved in the intermediate frequencies. This
variation is an indication of a protective passive film formation Fig. 8 Proposed EEC to simulate the experimental EIS data
and growth. Also, for both NaCl solutions, the low frequency (Grubac and Metikos-Hukovic, 2004).
impedance significantly increased in NC specimen. In conclu-
sion, the n-type NC bismuth telluride-based specimen offers
better passive film formation conditions with improved protec-
tive behavior. This can be attributed to the finer microstruc- QP ¼ Y0 ðjxÞn ð1Þ
ture of NC specimens, since smaller grains lead to higher
Also, Eqs. (2) and (3) were used to calculate impedance of
number of potential nucleation sites for passive film.
the constant phase element and the capacitance, C, respectively
Based on the impedance plots shown in Fig. 7, one time
(Vafaeian et al., 2016; Fattah-alhosseini and Imantalab, 2016):
constant can be employed to obtain EIS spectra or the SPA
and NC specimens. Therefore, the equivalent electrical circuit 1
ZCPE ¼ ½QðjxÞn ð2Þ
(EEC) shown in Fig. 8 is proposed to model the impedance
spectra. The circuit elements in this EEC are: Rs, Rp and Qp,
C ¼ Y0 ðxmax Þn1 ð3Þ
which represent solution resistance, resistance of the passive
1
film, constant phase element (CPE) corresponding to the where x stands for the angular frequency (rad s ), j is the
capacitance of the passive film, respectively (Grubac and imaginary number, Y0 shows the admittance (X1 cm2 s1),
Metikos-Hukovic, 2004). The CPE, Qp, depends on Y0 and n and xmax represents the angular frequency at which the peak
(in Eq. (1)), which can be obtained during the fitting process occurs in the imaginary element of the impedance, and n is
(Hirschorn et al., 2010): the Q exponent that varies between 0.5 and 1 as following:

Q provides an ideal capacitor, if n = 1; 1 2 kB T
¼ E Efb ð4Þ
Q gives a wide range of dielectric relaxation times, if 0.5 < C2 eeo eND e
n < 1;
where e denotes the passive film dielectric constant (218 for
Q presents a Warburg impedance with diffusion character,
Bi2Te3 (Zimmer et al., 2008), e0 shows the vacuum permittivity
if n = 0.5.
(8.854 1014 F/cm), k, e, and T stand for the Boltzmann
constant, the electron charge, and absolute temperature,
The alteration in the capacitance and resistance of the pas-
respectively. The M–S plots of extruded n-type SPA and NC
sive films formed on the both extruded n-type SPA and NC
specimens in 0.1 M and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions are shown
specimens in 0.1 M and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions are illustrated
in Fig. 10. The capacitance of the NC specimen was decreased
in Fig. 9. The passive film resistance of the NC specimen was
compared to that of SPA in both NaCl solutions. In Fig. 10, all
significantly increased compared with coarse-grained SPA in
plots have a region in which E and C2 are linearly related. In
both NaCl solutions Fig. 9(a)). Also, Fig. 9(b) illustrates that
this region, the positive slope is an indication of the negative
the passive film capacitance of the NC specimen was decreased
conduction type (n-type) in the passive layer. Similar M–S
compared to that of SPA. This reduction in the capacitance of
plots are observed for a different composition of bismuth tel-
the passive film suggests lower dissolution and enhanced pas-
luride (Zimmer et al., 2008). The donor density was calculated
sivity of the NC specimen (Fattah-alhosseini and Imantalab,
using Eq. (5):
2015).
1
2 dð1=C2 Þ
3.4. M–S analysis ND ¼ ð5Þ
eeo e dE
In the passive layer, donation of electrons by the cation
A comparison between the passive films formed on the
interstitials and/or oxygen vacancies results in domination of
extruded n-type SPA and NC specimens in 0.1 M and 3.5 wt
negatively charged particles contribution in the conduction
% NaCl solutions were evaluated by determining the capaci-
(i.e. n-type conduction) (Macdonald, 2011; Fattah-alhosseini,
tance (C) at semiconductor/solution interface, then, M–S
2016). Fig. 11 shows the calculated donor density (ND) and flat
curves (1/C2 vs. E) were plotted to assess the passive layer
band potential (EFB) of both SPA and NC specimens in 0.1 M
donor density (ND) and flat band potential (EFB) by using
Eq. (4) (Tittes and Plieth, 2007; Zimmer et al., 2008):
Semiconducting
(a) Behavior (n-type)
Polarization resistance/ kΩ.cm2
C-2/ F-2 cm4
C-2=1.31×109E+9.57×108
R2=0.996
C-2=4.40×108E+3.41×108
R2=0.994 (a)
Potential/ VAg/AgCl
n-SPA n-NC
(b)
Double layer capacitance/ µF.cm-2
C-2=2.43×109E+1.65×109
R2=0.992
C-2/ F-2 cm4
C-2=1.16×109E+6.50×108
R2=0.996
(b)
n-SPA n-NC
Potential/ VAg/AgCl
Fig. 9 (a) Polarization resistance and (b) double layer capaci-
tance of extruded n-type SPA and NC specimens in 0.1 M and 3.5 Fig. 10 M–S plots of extruded n-type SPA and NC specimens in
wt% NaCl solutions. 0.1 M and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions.
of bismuth telluride has greater corrosion resistance, especially

(a)
in an atmospheric environment, than that of SPA material.
Using the proposed NC material can lead to high performance
TE modules with higher reliability and longer service life.
ND/ 1020 cm-3
4. Conclusions
In this work, the electrochemical responses of extruded n-type

single-phase alloy (SPA) and nanocomposite (NC) (containing
MoS2 nanoparticles) specimens in 0.1 M and 3.5 wt% NaCl
solutions was evaluated. The following particular conclusions
can be drawn from the obtained results:
SPA NC
1. The microstructure is significantly refined in the nanocom-

(b)
posite specimen.
2. Potentiodynamic polarization and EIS analyses exhibited
that the passive behavior of the NC specimen was consider-
ably enhanced compared with the coarse-grained SPA in
EFB/ VAg/AgCl
both NaCl solutions.

3. Mott–Schottky analysis indicated that both SPA and NC
specimens behaved as n-type semiconductors in NaCl solu-
tions. Additionally, the donor density decreased in the NC
specimen.
4. Overall, n-type bismuth telluride NC thermoelectric speci-
men demonstrated more suitable performance, in terms of
SPA NC corrosion behavior, compared to that of the conventional
SPA.
Fig. 11 (a) Calculated donor density and (b) flat band potential
of extruded n-type SPA and NC specimens in 0.1 M and 3.5 wt%
NaCl solutions. Acknowledgment
and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions. The calculated value of ND of the The synthesis of the specimens presented in this work, were
NC specimen was significantly decreased compared with the carried out at the thermoelectric research lab. of Polytechnique
conventional SPA in both NaCl solutions Fig. 11(a)). The cal- Montreal, managed by Prof. S. Turenne. All the electrochem-
culated donor densities (1020 cm3) are comparable to those ical tests and analysis were performed at Dr. A. Fattah-
of previously reported values for bismuth telluride-based mate- alhosseini’s research lab, at Bu-Ali Sina University. The finan-
rials (Yoo et al., 2005; Zimmer et al., 2008). To obtain the flat cial support of the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF)
band potential, the linear part of the M–S plots (1/C2 vs. E) (No. 96002434) is gratefully acknowledged.
was extrapolated to the abscissa. As shown in Fig. 11(b), the
flat band potential value of the NC specimen was significantly References
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Arabian Journal of Chemistry (2018) xxx, xxx–xxx

King Saud University

Arabian Journal of Chemistry

Electrochemical response of n-type bismuth

Received 1 November 2017; accepted 30 January 2018

Thermoelectric (TE) materials, are basically semiconductors,

2.2. Microstructural characterization

Chemical composition of the SPA and NC specimens were

2.3. Electrochemical tests

Fig. 1 XRD patterns of extruded n-type SPA and NC specimens

Fig. 2 shows fracture surfaces of n-type SPA and NC spec-

3.2. PDP measurements

Fig. 4 depicts the Pourbaix diagram for Bi-Te system at 25 °C

Fig. 3 (a) HRTEM image of a MoS2 nanoparticle at the matrix

Fig. 4 Pourbaix diagram for Bi-Te at 25 °C (Martin-Gonzalez

(1) In the potentials from 1 to +0.2 (V); the compound is

(2) In potentials from +0.2 to +0.6 (V); bismuth and tel-

Corrosion current density/ µA.cm-2

The stability of the formed passive layer on bismuth tel-

Corrosion potential/ VAg/AgCl

NC specimens in NaCl solutions. The Tafel extrapolation

the 0.1 M NaCl solution. Indeed, these results revealed that

3.3. EIS measurements

The Nyquist and Bode plots of extruded n-type SPA and NC

Zreal /Ω.cm2 Frequency/ Hz

Zreal /Ω.cm2 Frequency/ Hz

C-2/ F-2 cm4

of bismuth telluride has greater corrosion resistance, especially

In this work, the electrochemical responses of extruded n-type

1. The microstructure is significantly refined in the nanocom-

both NaCl solutions.

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