The surface of the target may have gathered some coating at places during deposition. These spots seem to be little less conducting compared to the other fresh parts of the target. Will it be safe for the target if we try to clear this off via polishing with sand paper? If yes, then which grade of sand paper should be reasonable to use? Or are there some other better ways to clean in such cases?
The Bi2Se3 in its bulk is safe.
Nevertheless, the particles can be dangerous, especially for the respiratory system. I would suggest the use of an FFP3 mask and gloves.
Hi,
Thanks for the response. But I actually meant whether it was safe for the target itself. Will it get damaged or contaminated anyhow if we polish and clean it off using sandpaper?
Hi, apologies for overreding the question.
Definitely sanding is not the best option because you are going to leave particles over the surface.
A cheap solution might be to use an acid, brushing gently the surface (a polypropylene or another inert plastic brush should be okay), and then rinsing it after with some water.
Some acids that work well with the Bi2Se3 are HNO3, HCl. Also the aqua regia.
Now, if you have access to some nice equipment, ultrasounds or plasma cleaner/etched can work out.
Hi Sugata,
Polishing with sandpaper should not be recommended from both a health and experimental standpoint due to the residue it leaves behind on the surface. Instead, methods such as sputter cleaning or plasma cleaning are preferable. Sputter cleaning involves bombarding the material with energetic particles, typically argon ions in a vacuum, to remove contaminants like oxides and hydrocarbons. Plasma cleaning, on the other hand, utilizes a plasma to effectively cleanse the surface of contaminants.
Thanks a lot to you both. The discussion has been really helpful for me.
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