A general route for the rapid synthesis of one-dimensional nanostructured single-crystal Te,Se and Se–Te alloys directly from Te or/and Se powders

Abstract

A general and template-free ‘disproportionation and reversal’ route was developed tosynthesize one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures of Te, Se and Se–Te alloys directly from Teor/and Se powders. The products were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD),transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), andscanning electron microscopy (SEM). Te nanorods and nanowires with a width varyingfrom about 40 nm to about 300 nm, Se nanowires with a width of 60–100 nm and a length of4–6 µm, andSexTe100−x alloynanorods with x in a wide range, and with a width of 30–70 nm and an aspect ratio of three to five, wereprepared. The mechanism of formation of the nanorods and nanowires and the effects ofthe experimental conditions, such as solution concentration, cooling rate, solvent natureand heating process, on the morphology and size of the products have been discussed.We believe that this general route and some other proper reversible processesbetween solid state and solution state can be extended to the transformationsfrom various bulk materials into nanosized materials with various morphologies.