Nanostructured Bi2Te3 synthesized by low temperature aqueous chemical route

Abstract

Chemical and physical reactions during the low temperature aqueous chemical synthesis of nanostructured Bi₂Te₃ powders were investigated in-situ by pH measurement, color observation of the solution and X-ray diffraction analysis of the powders. It was found that Bi₂Te₃ could be synthesized only in a strong alkaline solution. Bi₂Te₃ nanocapsules were synthesized by the aqueous chemical route at 65 °C with the addition of disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate salt. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy observation indicates that the nanocapsules are hollow-structured with a wall thickness of about 6 nm.