PEG-Mediated Hydrothermal Growth of Single-Crystal Tellurium Nanotubes

Abstract

Single-crystal tellurium nanotubes can be directly grown from commercially available tellurium powder with the mediation of poly(ethylene glycol) through a hydrothermal process. Scanning electon microscopy images show that most of the tellurium nanotubes have hexagonal cross sections, with diameters in the range of 200−400 nm and lengths in the range of 5−20 μm. The growth of tellurium nanotubes occurred through a dissolution−recrystallization process. First, tellurium powder dissolved into water as atoms or atoms clusters. Then tellurium atoms or atoms clusters grew into tellurium nanotubes. Poly(ethylene glycol) played important roles in the formation of tellurium nanotubes. It promoted the dissolution of tellurium powder into water under hydrothermal conditions. And also, it controlled the growth of tellurium nanotubes. This approach may be helpful for the growth of other inorganic nanomaterials with one-dimensional structure.