ELECTRODEPOSITION OF BI-TE ALLOY-FILMS

Electrochemical deposition of Bi-Te alloy films from acidic solutions containing Bi(NO3)3 and TeO2 has been investigated. The thickness, compound, and composition of the Bi-Te alloy films have been examined using stylus-type surface profiling techniques, x-ray diffraction peak measurement, and inductively coupled plasma/Auger electron spectroscopy measurements. At potentials where limiting current was observed, the compositions of films were controlled by the mole ratio [Bi3+]/[HTeO2+] in the solutions and the relationship between the composition of electrodeposited films and the composition of electrolyte solutions was derived.