Electronic and spin structure of the topological insulator Bi2Te2.4Se0.6

High-resolution spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements were performed on the three-dimensional topological insulator Bi${}_{2}$Te${}_{2.4}$Se${}_{0.6}$, which is characterized by enhanced thermoelectric properties. The Fermi level position is found to be located in the bulk energy gap independent of temperature and it is stable over a long time. Spin textures in the Dirac-cone state at energies above and below the Dirac point as well as in the Rashba-type valence band surface state are observed in agreement with theoretical prediction. The calculations of the surface electronic structure demonstrate that the fractional stoichiometry induced disorder within the Te/Se sublattice does not influence the Dirac-cone state dispersion. In spite of relatively high resistivity, temperature dependence of conductivity shows a weak metallic behavior that could explain the effective thermoelectric properties of the Bi${}_{2}$Te${}_{2.4}$Se${}_{0.6}$ compound with the in-plane Seebeck coefficient reaching $\ensuremath{-}330$ $\ensuremath{\mu}$V/K at room temperature.