Magnetotransport and thermoelectric properties of cobalt doped Bi2Te3 nanostructures

Magnetotransport and thermoelectric properties of Bi2-xCoxTe3 nanomaterials have been studied. Temperature-dependent electrical resistivity of the materials shows a drastic change from degenerate semiconductor to a metal-like behavior with incorporation of cobalt in the sample. The observation of root N and ln(T) dependent electrical conductivity is predicted to have electron-electron interaction (EEI), and quantum interference effect (QIE) dominated transport mechanisms respectively. Low field MR of the materials exhibits sharp dips demonstrating the appearance of QIE, and a crossover from linear MR at low temperature to linear plus quadratic MR at high temperature indicates the quantum transport of the materials. Quantum correction of the low field magnetoconductivity follows 2D Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka equation and the temperature variation of phase coherence length l(phi) indicates the existence of 2D transport in the materials. The decrease of phase coherence length and increase of alpha parameter with the incorporation of cobalt leads to the enhancement of bulk domination of the conduction.

Automated summary

The magnetotransport and thermoelectric properties of Bi2-xCoxTe3 nanomaterials are influenced by the incorporation of cobalt, resulting in a significant change in the electrical resistivity behavior, possibly due to electron-electron interaction and quantum interference effect.