Pulsed current-voltage electrodeposition of stoichiometric Bi2Te3 nanowires and their crystallographic characterization by transmission electron backscatter diffraction

Bi2Te3 nanowires with diameters ranging from 25 to 270 nm, ultra-high aspect ratio, and uniform growth front were fabricated by electrodeposition, pulsing between zero current density during the off time and constant potential during the on time (pulsed-current-voltage method, p-IV). The use of zero current density during the off time is to ensure no electrodeposition is carried out and the system is totally relaxed. By this procedure, stoichiometric nanowires oriented perpendicular to the c-axis is obtained for the different diameters of porous alumina templates. In addition, the samples show a uniform growth front with ultra-high aspect ratio single crystal nanowires. The high degree of crystallinity was verified by transmission electron backscatter diffraction. This characterization revealed that the nanowires present both large single crystalline areas and areas with alternating twin configurations.The authors would like to acknowledge partial financial support from ERC StG NanoTEC 240497, National Project No. MAT2017-86450-C4-3-R, and Intramural Infante CSIC 201550E072. M. H. A wants to acknowledge the financial support of European Commission through H2020 MSCARISE 2016, Project "SPICOLOST" No 734187 which are funding the access to LMA-INA equipment of Transmission Electron Microscopy.Peer reviewe