Metalloid nanocrystals may enable lithium-ion batteries to be replaced by more powerful sodium ion batteries. Tellurium, which is a semiconductor in its standard state, is used mainly as a component in type II/VI semiconducting-chalcogenides; these have applications in electro-optics and electronics. Cadmium telluride (CdTe) is used in solar modules for its high conversion efficiency, low manufacturing costs, and large band gap of 1.44 eV, letting it absorb a wide range of wavelengths. Bismuth telluride (BiTe), alloyed with selenium and antimony, is a component of thermoelectric devices used for refrigeration or portable power generation. Five metalloids—boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, and antimony—can be
Tellurium hexafluoride Tellurium hexafluoride Tellurium hexafluoride is a chemical compound of tellurium and fluorine with the chemical formula TeF. It is a colorless, highly toxic gas with an extremely unpleasant smell. Tellurium hexafluoride is most commonly prepared by passing fluorine gas over tellurium at 150 °C. Below this temperature a mixture of lower fluorides form, including tellurium tetrafluoride and ditellurium decafluoride. It can also be prepared by passing fluorine gas over TeO or indirectly by reacting TeO with SeF to produce TeF and then heating TeF in excess of 200 °C to make TeF and Te. Tellurium hexafluoride is a highly symmetric