spore: profile
id: antimony-telluride
spore_version: 0.2
family: semiconductor-materials
name: Antimony telluride (Sb2Te3)
abbreviation: Sb2Te3
role: p-type thermoelectric partner to bismuth telluride, thin-film thermoelectric and evaporation material, topological insulator
category: energy
type: thermoelectrics
summary: |
  Antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) is a grey, rhombohedral compound of antimony and tellurium. Supplier data sheets print a density of 6.50 g/cm3 and a melting point of 629.00 C, while a second supplier prints 620 C for the same melting point. Thin films of Sb2Te3 made by thermal co-evaporation reached a Seebeck coefficient of 502 µV/K at 12 nm thickness, and about 100 µV/K in films thicker than 100 nm (Thao et al., arXiv 2019). The high value is a thin-film result, and no bulk Seebeck value for Sb2Te3 was found in the sources read.
best_for: Thin-film thermoelectric research and micro-coolers, where the p-type film reached a Seebeck coefficient of 502 µV/K at 12 nm
weakest_at: 'Oxidising or acidic conditions: the supplier MSDS lists acids and strong oxidisers as incompatible, and no humidity or ageing test for this compound was found'
identity:
  formula: Sb2Te3
  cas: 1327-50-0
  crystal_system: hexagonal-rhombohedral (as printed)
  source: sam-sb2te3-msds
  where: Section II (CAS 1327-50-0; molecular weight printed without unit) and Section I header (formula Sb2Te3); crystal system from the matltech product page, Description section
tags:
  environments: []
  stresses: []
  applications:
    - thermal-control
    - electronics-and-chips
properties:
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density of antimony telluride (supplier MSDS)
    value: 6.5
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      form: grey powder and pieces, as printed
      temperature: not stated in the MSDS
    method: Value printed in the Stanford Advanced Materials MSDS, Section III
    status: ground
    source: sam-sb2te3-msds
    where: Section III, Density line
  - benchmark: density
    label: Theoretical density of antimony telluride pellet evaporation material
    value: 6.5
    unit: g/cc
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: theoretical density as printed by the supplier, not measured on the pellet
    method: Value printed in the AEM Deposition product specification table
    status: calculated
    source: aem-sb2te3
    where: Product specification table, Density column (Theoretical Density, g/cc)
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density of antimony telluride (matltech product page)
    value: 6.5
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      form: powder or product as sold by the supplier
      temperature: not stated
    method: Value printed in the description section of the supplier product page
    status: ground
    source: matltech-sb2te3
    where: Description section, density line
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting point of antimony telluride (supplier MSDS)
    value: 629
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: single value printed in the MSDS, shown with 1164.2 F as printed
    method: Value printed in the Stanford Advanced Materials MSDS, Section III
    status: ground
    note: Printed as 629.00 C in the MSDS. AEM Deposition also prints 629 °C, while matltech prints 620 °C, so the suppliers disagree.
    source: sam-sb2te3-msds
    where: Section III, Melting Point line
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting point of antimony telluride (matltech product page)
    value: 620
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: value printed as 620oC on the product page
    method: Value printed in the description section of the supplier product page
    status: ground
    source: matltech-sb2te3
    where: Description section, melting point line
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting point of antimony telluride pellet evaporation material (AEM Deposition)
    value: 629
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      form: pellet evaporation material
      basis: value printed in the Melting Point column of the product table
    method: Value printed in the AEM Deposition product specification table
    status: ground
    source: aem-sb2te3
    where: Product specification table, Melting Point column
  - benchmark: band_gap
    label: Band gap of antimony telluride (matltech product page)
    value: 0.23
    unit: eV
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: value printed as 0.23eV in the description section, no temperature printed
    method: Value printed in the description section of the supplier product page
    status: ground
    note: Property name band_gap is not in spores/property-canon.yaml. AEM Deposition prints 0.21 eV, so the sources disagree.
    source: matltech-sb2te3
    where: Description section, band gap line
  - benchmark: band_gap
    label: Band gap of antimony telluride (AEM Deposition)
    value: 0.21
    unit: eV
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: value printed in the description section, no temperature printed
    method: Value printed in the description section of the AEM Deposition page
    status: ground
    note: Property name band_gap is not in spores/property-canon.yaml. matltech prints 0.23eV, so the sources disagree.
    source: aem-sb2te3
    where: Description section, band-gap line
  - benchmark: evaporation_temperature
    label: Evaporation temperature of antimony telluride pellets (AEM Deposition)
    value: 600
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      form: pellet evaporation material, thermal evaporation from a crucible
      vapour_pressure: the 10-4 Torr column of the source table
    method: Value printed in the temperature column of the AEM Deposition product specification table
    status: ground
    note: Property name evaporation_temperature is not in spores/property-canon.yaml.
    source: aem-sb2te3
    where: Product specification table, Temp. (°C) for given vapour pressure column
  - benchmark: decomposition_temperature
    label: Decomposition temperature of antimony telluride (AEM Deposition)
    value: 750
    bound: lower
    unit: °C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      basis: the supplier comment reads Decomposes over 750°C, so 750 is a lower bound as printed
    method: Printed in the comments field of the AEM Deposition product specification table
    status: ground
    note: Property name decomposition_temperature is not in spores/property-canon.yaml. Only one supplier gives this value.
    source: aem-sb2te3
    where: Product specification table, Comments field
  - benchmark: seebeck_coefficient
    label: Peak Seebeck coefficient of thin-film Sb2Te3 (series S2, 12 nm)
    value: 502
    unit: µV/K
    scope: material
    conditions:
      form: p-type Sb2Te3 film made by thermal co-evaporation, not bulk material
      thickness: 12 nm, the thickness of the highest value in Table I
      temperature: not stated in Table I
    method: Highest Seebeck coefficient in the thickness series, printed in Table I of the paper
    status: ground
    note: Property name seebeck_coefficient is not in spores/property-canon.yaml. Thin film result only.
    source: thao2019
    where: Table I, row S2 (Smax column)
  - benchmark: seebeck_coefficient
    label: Saturated Seebeck coefficient of thick-film Sb2Te3 (series S2)
    value: 90
    unit: µV/K
    scope: material
    conditions:
      form: p-type Sb2Te3 film made by thermal co-evaporation, not bulk material
      thickness: thick-film limit, above 100 nm per the abstract
      temperature: not stated in Table I
    method: Saturated value printed in Table I of the paper for series S2
    status: ground
    note: The abstract gives about 100 µV/K for thick films, a little different from this table value. Both are kept.
    source: thao2019
    where: Table I, row S2 (saturated column)
  - benchmark: seebeck_coefficient
    label: Seebeck coefficient of thick films of Sb2Te3 (abstract)
    value: 100
    unit: µV/K
    scope: material
    conditions:
      form: p-type Sb2Te3 film made by thermal co-evaporation, not bulk material
      thickness: greater than 100 nm
      temperature: not stated in the abstract
    method: Value stated as around 100 µV/K in the abstract
    status: ground
    note: Stated as around 100 µV/K in the abstract. Table I gives 90 µV/K for the saturated value of series S2.
    source: thao2019
    where: Abstract, second sentence
corrosion:
  - environment: Acids and strong oxidising agents (supplier MSDS and supplier product page)
    headline: Acids and strong oxidisers are listed as incompatible, and the compound is soluble in nitric acid.
    effect: The Stanford Advanced Materials MSDS lists acids, strong oxidising agents, chlorates and perchlorates as incompatible. The matltech page says the compound is soluble in nitric acid and incompatible with acids. No corrosion rate or test duration is printed in either source.
    rating: severe
    conditions:
      basis: qualitative supplier statements, no test duration or temperature
      acid: nitric acid named on the matltech page
    source: sam-sb2te3-msds
    where: Section V (Incompatibility); matltech product page, Description section
  - environment: Humid air and water
    headline: The suppliers disagree on water solubility. No humidity ageing test for Sb2Te3 was found.
    effect: 'The MSDS prints Solubility in water: Soluble, while the matltech page says insoluble in water. The MSDS notes that the chemical, physical and toxicological properties have not been thoroughly investigated. No humidity or oxidation test on the pure compound was found in the sources read.'
    rating: unknown
    conditions:
      basis: supplier statements only; no exposure time, temperature or humidity was printed
    source: sam-sb2te3-msds
    where: Section III (Solubility in water); Section VI (investigation statement); matltech product page, Description section
risks:
  hazards:
    - text: The supplier MSDS (Stanford Advanced Materials, revision 2.0, 2012) says most antimony compounds are poisonous by ingestion and inhalation, and that the toxicological properties of antimony telluride have not been thoroughly investigated.
      ghs: []
      source: sam-sb2te3-msds
      where: Section VI, Health Hazard Data
    - text: The MSDS lists an OSHA PEL and an ACGIH TLV of '.1 mg(Te)/m3'. These are limits for tellurium, not for antimony.
      ghs: []
      source: sam-sb2te3-msds
      where: Section II, exposure limits table
    - text: The MSDS says that heating to decomposition, or contact with acid or acid fumes, may give toxic fumes of tellurium and antimony.
      ghs: []
      source: sam-sb2te3-msds
      where: Section IV (Unusual Fire and Explosion Hazards) and Section V
  failure_risks:
    - mode: Reaction with strong oxidisers, chlorates or perchlorates
      trigger: Contact with strong oxidising agents, chlorates or perchlorates
      consequence: The MSDS says the compound is flammable by spontaneous reaction with strong oxidising agents and moderately explosive in contact with chlorates and perchlorates.
      severity: high
      source: sam-sb2te3-msds
      where: Section IV (Unusual Fire and Explosion Hazards); Section V (Incompatibility)
    - mode: Decomposition on heating
      trigger: Heating above the decomposition temperature on the supplier page
      consequence: The supplier comment says it decomposes over 750°C, and the MSDS says heating to decomposition gives fumes of tellurium and antimony.
      severity: moderate
      source: aem-sb2te3
      where: Product specification table, Comments; sam-sb2te3-msds Section V
  handling:
    - text: Store in a cool, dry area in a tightly sealed container, and wash thoroughly after handling, per the MSDS.
      source: sam-sb2te3-msds
      where: Section VII (Hazard Label Information)
    - text: Keep away from acids and strong oxidising agents, which the MSDS lists as incompatible.
      source: sam-sb2te3-msds
      where: Section V (Incompatibility)
  mitigations:
    - text: Use local exhaust or mechanical ventilation, a NIOSH approved respirator, impervious gloves and safety glasses when handling powder, per the MSDS.
      source: sam-sb2te3-msds
      where: Section VIII (Control Measures)
uses:
  - application: thermal-control
    device: Thermoelectric materials, as the p-type partner of bismuth telluride
    example: Thin p-type Sb2Te3 films, made by thermal co-evaporation, were tested as one half of a thermoelectric pair with n-type Bi2Te3 for a room-temperature micro-cooler. The authors call the pair the first step toward a practical micro-cooler.
    source: thao2019
    where: Abstract, final sentence; Introduction
  - application: electronics-and-chips
    device: Pellet evaporation source for thin-film deposition
    example: AEM Deposition sells antimony telluride as a pellet evaporation material, with a melting point of 629 °C and an evaporation temperature of 600 °C at the 10-4 Torr vapour pressure point in its table.
    source: aem-sb2te3
    where: Product specification table; Description section
  - application: electronics-and-chips
    device: Topological insulator research samples (no device)
    example: Hsieh et al. show that Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 belong to the Z2 topological-insulator class, and that the electronic structure of self-doped Sb2Te3 shows similar Z2 topological properties.
    source: hsieh2009
    where: Abstract
  - application: electronics-and-chips
    device: Semiconductor and optoelectronic devices (general supplier statement)
    example: FUSNANO lists its antimony telluride powder as used in thermoelectric materials, in semiconductors and in optoelectronic devices, etc.
    source: fusnano-sb2te3
    where: Product page, uses list
supply:
  - subject: Antimony (the Sb in Sb2Te3)
    abundance: No crustal abundance was read in this run.
    producers:
      - country: China
        share_percent: 36.4
        year: 2025
      - country: Russia
        share_percent: 29.1
        year: 2025
      - country: Tajikistan
        share_percent: 20
        year: 2025
    critical_lists: []
    recycling: 'USGS: recycling supplied 12% of estimated domestic apparent consumption in 2025.'
    substitutes:
      - 'USGS: chromium, tin, titanium, zinc and zirconium compounds can substitute for antimony chemicals in enamels, paint and similar uses. The chapter does not discuss telluride compounds.'
    source: usgs-mcs2026-antimony
    where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e (shares calculated by Space Mushroom from China 40,000 t, Russia 32,000 t and Tajikistan 22,000 t, against the 110,000 t world total as printed); Recycling; Substitutes.
  - subject: Tellurium (the Te in Sb2Te3)
    abundance: No crustal abundance was read in this run.
    producers:
      - country: China
        share_percent: 80
        year: 2025
    critical_lists: []
    recycling: 'USGS: tellurium was recycled from CdTe solar cells in the United States, but the quantity recycled was limited.'
    substitutes:
      - 'USGS: bismuth selenide and organic polymers can substitute for BiTe in some thermoelectric devices. The chapter does not name Sb2Te3.'
    source: usgs-mcs2026-tellurium
    where: Production; World Refinery Production and Capacity (China, 2025, 80% of estimated global production as printed); Recycling; Substitutes.
media: []
documents:
  - title: 'Material Safety Data Sheet: Antimony Telluride (Stanford Advanced Materials, CAS 1327-50-0), version 2.0, revision date Sep 5, 2012'
    type: sds
    url: https://www.sputtertargets.net/Public/pdf/antimony-telluride-msds.pdf
    year: 2012
  - title: 'FUSNANO product page: Antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) powder'
    type: datasheet
    url: https://www.fusnano.com/telluride/antimony-telluride-powder.html
    year: 2026
  - title: 'matltech product page: Antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) 3N to 5N'
    type: datasheet
    url: https://www.matltech.com/antimony-telluride-sb2te3-al2te3-as2te3-bi2te3-ga2te3-3n-4n-5n-product/
    year: 2026
  - title: 'AEM Deposition product page: Antimony telluride evaporation material'
    type: datasheet
    url: https://www.aemdeposition.com/compound-evaporation-material/antimony-telluride-evaporation-material.html
    year: 2026
  - title: Thao et al., Enhanced thermoelectricity at the ultra-thin film limit (arXiv:1912.11274)
    type: paper
    url: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1912.11274
    year: 2019
  - title: Hsieh et al., Time-reversal-protected single-Dirac-cone topological-insulator states in Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 (arXiv:0909.4804)
    type: paper
    url: https://arxiv.org/pdf/0909.4804
    year: 2009
  - title: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Antimony
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-antimony.pdf
    year: 2026
  - title: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tellurium
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-tellurium.pdf
    year: 2026
  - title: PubChem compound record, antimony telluride (CID 6369653), molecular weight and formula
    type: database
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug/compound/name/antimony%20telluride/property/MolecularWeight,MolecularFormula,IUPACName/JSON
    year: 2026
gaps:
  - No Sb2Te3-specific humidity, oxidation or ageing test was found in the sources read. The Bi2Te3 alloy ageing data in the bismuth telluride profile are for a different material and are not used here.
  - The PubChem GHS classification for CID 6369653 was not reachable in this run. Hazard entries use the supplier MSDS only, and the MSDS does not print GHS hazard statements.
  - Bulk thermoelectric values for undoped Sb2Te3 (thermal conductivity, bulk Seebeck coefficient, figure of merit) were not found in a source read in this run.
  - The thin-film paper's figure-of-merit estimate depends on an assumed thermal conductivity, so it is not recorded as a property.
  - The FUSNANO product page could not be read by the scripted source check (it returned no page text to curl). Its use statement is cited, but its density, melting point and band gap are not recorded because the matltech page gives the same grade values and can be checked.
  - Electrical resistivity, a figure of merit and a Seebeck entry on the FUSNANO page are printed with exponents or an unclear label (at M), so they are not recorded.
  - Molecular weight is printed without a unit on the MSDS (626.30), the matltech page (626.32) and PubChem (626.3), so it is not recorded as a property.
  - Atomic weights were not read in this run, so the recipe gives atom counts from the formula instead of atomic weights.
  - Abundance of antimony and tellurium in the crust was not read in this run.
  - Critical-mineral status of antimony and tellurium was not checked in this run. The USGS 2025 critical list and the EU list were not read, so critical_lists is empty.
  - The space group was not read. The crystal system (hexagonal-rhombohedral) is printed on the matltech page only.
  - No flight, vacuum, radiation or thermal-cycling result for Sb2Te3 was found.
  - Property names band_gap, evaporation_temperature, decomposition_temperature and seebeck_coefficient are not in spores/property-canon.yaml and are used here.
  - Water solubility conflicts between the MSDS (soluble) and the matltech page (insoluble). Both are kept.
sources:
  sam-sb2te3-msds:
    title: 'Material Safety Data Sheet: Antimony Telluride (Stanford Advanced Materials), version 2.0, revision date Sep 5, 2012'
    id: CAS 1327-50-0
    url: https://www.sputtertargets.net/Public/pdf/antimony-telluride-msds.pdf
    year: 2012
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier document, linked not reproduced
  fusnano-sb2te3:
    title: FUSNANO product page, Antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) powder (undated)
    id: product page read 2026-11-01
    url: https://www.fusnano.com/telluride/antimony-telluride-powder.html
    year: 2026
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier web page, cited not reproduced
  matltech-sb2te3:
    title: matltech product page, Antimony Telluride (Sb2Te3) 3N to 5N
    id: product page read 2026-11-01; CAS 1327-50-0 printed
    url: https://www.matltech.com/antimony-telluride-sb2te3-al2te3-as2te3-bi2te3-ga2te3-3n-4n-5n-product/
    year: 2026
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier web page, cited not reproduced
  aem-sb2te3:
    title: AEM Deposition product page, Antimony Telluride Pellet Evaporation Material (Sb2Te3)
    id: product page read 2026-11-01
    url: https://www.aemdeposition.com/compound-evaporation-material/antimony-telluride-evaporation-material.html
    year: 2026
    kind: datasheet
    license: supplier web page, cited not reproduced
  thao2019:
    title: Enhanced thermoelectricity at the ultra-thin film limit
    id: arXiv:1912.11274 (Thao, Linh, Giang, Tung, Kien, Hong, Thuat, Tuyen, Toan, Hung)
    url: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1912.11274
    year: 2019
    kind: paper
    license: arXiv preprint, cited as published
  hsieh2009:
    title: Time-reversal-protected single-Dirac-cone topological-insulator states in Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3
    id: arXiv:0909.4804 (Hsieh et al., 2009)
    url: https://arxiv.org/pdf/0909.4804
    year: 2009
    kind: paper
    license: arXiv preprint, cited as published
  usgs-mcs2026-antimony:
    title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Antimony
    id: USGS MCS 2026, February 2026
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-antimony.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: public domain (USGS)
  usgs-mcs2026-tellurium:
    title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Tellurium
    id: USGS MCS 2026, February 2026
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-tellurium.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: public domain (USGS)
  pubchem-sb2te3:
    title: PubChem compound record, antimony telluride (CID 6369653), molecular weight and formula
    id: CID 6369653; CAS 1327-50-0
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug/compound/name/antimony%20telluride/property/MolecularWeight,MolecularFormula,IUPACName/JSON
    year: 2026
    kind: database
    license: public domain (NCBI)
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-11-01'
checked_values: 13
review:
  status: draft
  method: assistant
  checked_values: 13
  note: Written by an AI assistant on 2026-11-01 from pages read in this run. Values come from one supplier MSDS, three supplier product pages, the Thao et al. arXiv paper (Table I and abstract), two USGS 2026 chapters, and a PubChem record. Hsieh et al. is used for a qualitative topological-insulator statement only.
story:
  recipe:
    line: Antimony telluride is a compound of antimony and tellurium with the formula Sb2Te3 (CAS 1327-50-0, per the supplier MSDS). It is sold as grey powder, pieces and pellets for thin-film evaporation. Thin p-type films can be made by thermal co-evaporation of the two elements, as Thao et al. describe for the Sb2Te3 series.
    parts:
      - name: Antimony
        symbol: Sb
        role: The main metal of the compound. The MSDS notes that most antimony compounds are poisonous, so the antimony content drives much of the hazard.
      - name: Tellurium
        symbol: Te
        role: The chalcogen in the layered crystal. Tellurium gives the compound its thermoelectric and topological properties, and its own exposure limit appears in the MSDS.
  risk_groups:
    - title: For people
      level: 1
      verdict: Toxic by the MSDS; data are thin
      lead: The supplier MSDS calls antimony compounds poisonous and says the toxicology of this compound was not thoroughly investigated.
      points:
        - label: The powder
          line: Most antimony compounds are poisonous by ingestion and inhalation, and tellurium compounds can cause garlic-like breath and sweat, per the MSDS.
        - label: Exposure limits
          line: The MSDS prints a limit of '.1 mg(Te)/m3' for OSHA and ACGIH, but this is a tellurium limit, not an antimony limit.
    - title: If it overheats or meets oxidisers
      lead: These are the failure routes the supplier sources describe. No cell or device test for this compound was found.
      points:
        - label: Oxidisers
          line: The MSDS says it is flammable by spontaneous reaction with strong oxidising agents and moderately explosive in contact with chlorates and perchlorates.
        - label: Heat
          line: The supplier says it decomposes over 750 °C. Heating to decomposition gives fumes of tellurium and antimony.
    - title: Handling and storage
      points:
        - label: Storage
          line: Store in a cool, dry area in a tightly sealed container, away from acids and strong oxidising agents.
        - label: Ventilation
          line: Use local exhaust or mechanical ventilation, and a NIOSH approved respirator where dust is present, per the MSDS.
  why: Antimony telluride (Sb2Te3) is the p-type partner in the bismuth telluride thermoelectric family. Its supplier data sheets describe a grey, rhombohedral compound with a density of 6.50 g/cm3 and a melting point of 629.00 C. Suppliers disagree on the melting point, with some printing 620 °C. Thin films made by thermal co-evaporation showed a higher Seebeck coefficient than thick films, and the thinnest p-type film reached 502 µV/K. Sb2Te3 is also a topological insulator class material, so it appears in research as well as in thermoelectric and vapour-deposition work.
  uses:
    - where: Thermoelectric cooling and power (thin-film research)
      line: Thao et al. made thin p-type Sb2Te3 films by thermal co-evaporation and paired them with n-type Bi2Te3 films, describing the pair as the first step toward a room-temperature micro-cooler. The work is research, not a flight or product unit.
    - where: Evaporation source for thin films
      line: AEM Deposition sells antimony telluride as a pellet evaporation material, with a printed melting point of 629 °C and an evaporation temperature of 600 °C at the 10-4 Torr column of its table.
    - where: Topological insulator research
      line: Hsieh et al. classify Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 as Z2 topological insulators, and say that self-doped Sb2Te3 shows similar topological properties. This is a materials-physics use, not a device.
  can_do:
    - label: Thermoelectric p-type leg
      benchmark: seebeck_coefficient
      line: Acts as the p-type leg of a thermoelectric pair with an n-type partner, as shown in thin-film tests (Thao et al.).
    - label: Thin-film deposition
      benchmark: seebeck_coefficient
      line: Can be deposited as a thin film by thermal co-evaporation, where the thinnest films gave the highest Seebeck coefficient (Thao et al.).
    - label: Evaporation pellets
      benchmark: evaporation_temperature
      line: Is supplied as pellets for thermal evaporation at 600 °C at the 10-4 Torr column of the AEM Deposition table.
    - label: Topological research
      line: Serves as a topological insulator research material (Hsieh et al.).
  compare: Sb2Te3 is the p-type partner of bismuth telluride, Bi2Te3, in the same layered tellurium family. Its printed density and melting point are close to those of the bismuth compound, and its band gap is printed at 0.21 eV or 0.23 eV depending on the supplier. The thin-film Seebeck coefficient reported here is 502 µV/K at its best, and thick films reach about 100 µV/K. For bulk material, the supplier pages do not print a thermal conductivity or figure of merit, so the two compounds cannot be ranked for bulk thermoelectric use from this profile alone. The comparison rows below show the properties that are recorded for this compound.
  compare_rows:
    - label: Density
      benchmark: density
    - label: Melting point
      benchmark: melting_point
    - label: Seebeck coefficient (thin film)
      benchmark: seebeck_coefficient
  handling:
    - The MSDS calls for a cool, dry area and a tightly sealed container, and says to wash thoroughly after handling.
    - Keep it away from acids and strong oxidising agents, which the MSDS lists as incompatible.
    - Use ventilation and a particulate respirator where dust forms. The MSDS also calls for impervious gloves and safety glasses.
  good_for:
    - Thin-film thermoelectric research, where the Thao et al. film reached a Seebeck coefficient of 502 µV/K at 12 nm thickness.
    - Thermal evaporation of thin films from pellets, as sold by AEM Deposition.
  watch_out:
    - Suppliers print two melting points, 629 °C (MSDS, AEM Deposition) and 620 °C (matltech).
    - Suppliers disagree on water solubility, and no humidity or oxidation test for the compound was found.
    - The thin-film Seebeck values come from films and are not bulk values, so do not treat them as bulk data.
  verdict: A well-documented compound for thin-film and evaporation work, with strong handling limits and no bulk thermoelectric data in this profile.