Analysis of size dependent electrical resistivity of Bi2Te3 nanoparticles

Abstract

The size-dependent electrical resistivity (T) of Bi2Te3 nanoparticles is theoretically analyzed. Temperature-dependent resistivity of Bi2Te3 nanoparticles is very sensitive to particle size, it shows clearly semiconducting phase for 22nm particle size, whereas, for 150nm particle size, it shows metallic behaviour dominated by electron-phonon interaction. The resistivity in metallic phase is estimated considering electronphonon scattering mechanism using Bloch-Gruneisen [BG] model of resistivity. Whereas, resistivity in Semiconducting phase has been estimated by small polaron conduction (SPC) mechanism. The theoretically calculated resistivity for various particle sizes in semiconducting and metallic phase of Bi2Te3 nanoparticles shows good agreement with experimental results in wide temperature range.