Arsenic Telluride (As2Te3) is a narrow-bandgap semiconductor known for its unique thermoelectric and optical properties. This compound belongs to the same structural family as bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3), which is widely used in solid-state cooling and energy conversion. The distinct polymorphism and low lattice thermal conductivity of As2Te3 make it a promising material for next-generation thermoelectric devices and infrared detection technologies.
Material Overview
As2Te3 crystallizes in multiple structural phases, including the rhombohedral β-phase and the monoclinic α-phase. The β-phase, isostructural to Bi2Te3, features van der Waals-bonded layers that facilitate anisotropic electronic transport. According to Vaney et al. (2016), β-As2Te3 behaves as a p-type semiconductor with a high carrier concentration of about 1020 cm−3 at 300 K, exhibiting electrical conductivity comparable to high-efficiency tellurides. Its lattice thermal conductivity, measured below 1 W·m−1·K−1 above 300 K, is attributed to low-energy Te optical phonons, which effectively scatter heat-carrying acoustic modes. This phonon-limited transport, combined with an energy band gap of approximately 0.3 eV, provides As2Te3 with excellent thermoelectric potential. Further investigations by Morin et al. (2015) confirmed its reversible β → α phase transformation near 480 K, affecting resistivity and specific heat capacity without degrading its semiconducting nature.
Applications and Advantages
Arsenic Telluride finds use in infrared detectors, optical recording materials, and thermoelectric modules for power generation and cooling. Its low lattice thermal conductivity and stable carrier mobility enable efficient energy conversion over a wide temperature range. As a chalcogenide compound, it also exhibits significant nonlinear optical behavior, making it suitable for photonic switching and mid-infrared optical communication systems. Research on its alloy systems, such as (GeTe)nAs2Te3, reveals improved figures of merit (ZT) approaching those of state-of-the-art Bi2Te3-based materials (Nentwig et al., 2017). These findings underscore its potential as an environmentally friendlier alternative to antimony- or bismuth-based thermoelectrics.
Goodfellow Availability
Goodfellow provides Arsenic Telluride (As2Te3) in research-grade purity and customizable geometries suitable for thin-film deposition, thermoelectric testing, and semiconductor research. Tailored compositions and dimensions are available to meet laboratory and industrial research requirements.
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References
- Vaney, J. B., Delaizir, G., Morin, C., Carreaud, J., & Lenoir, B. (2016). Electronic structure, low-temperature transport and thermodynamic properties of polymorphic β-As2Te3. RSC Advances, 6, 48540–48550. https://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA01770C
- Morin, C., Corallini, S., Vaney, J. B., Delaizir, G., & Lenoir, B. (2015). Polymorphism in thermoelectric As2Te3. Inorganic Chemistry, 54(19), 9486–9496. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5b01676
- Nentwig, M., Fahrnbauer, F., Kasprick, M., & Oeckler, O. (2017). Single crystal structure elucidation and thermoelectric properties of long-periodic germanium arsenic telluride (GeTe)7As2Te3. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 696, 341–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.10.104