Solvothermal synthesis and thermoelectric property of nanostructured bismuth selenide

Bismuth selenide (Bi$_{2}$Se$_{3})$ nanostructures were synthesized via solvothermal method. The crystallinity of the as-prepared sample has been analyzed by X-ray diffraction, which shows the formation of rhombohedral Bi$_{2}$Se$_{3}$. Electron microscopy examination shows that the Bi$_{2}$Se$_{3}$ nanostructures have hexagonal plate like structure. The effect of the synthesis temperatures on the structure and morphology of the nanostructures has also been investigated. It is found that the particle size increases with the synthesis temperature. Thermoelectric properties of Bi$_{2}$Se$_{3}$ nanostructures have also been measured. A maximum figure-of-merit (ZT) of 0.096 was obtained at 523K and a minimum thermal conductivity of 0.751Wm$^{-1}$K$^{-1}$ at 300K.