Morphological evolution in single-crystalline Bi2Te3 nanoparticles, nanosheets and nanotubes with different synthesis temperatures

A general surfactant-assisted wet chemical route has been developed for the synthesis of a variety of bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) single-crystalline nanostructures with varied morphologies at different temperatures in which hydrazine hydrate plays as an important solvent. Bi2Te3 sheet grown nanoparticles, nanosheets and nanotubes have been synthesized by a simplest wet chemical route at 50, 70 and 100 °C within 4 h. Bi2Te3 sheet grown nanoparticles are obtained in agglomerate state and they are found with many wrinkles. Various types of Bi2Te3 nanotubes are also found which are tapered with one end open and the other closed. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the powder product. It is found that all nanoparticles, nanosheets and nanotubes are well-crystallized nanocrystals and morphologies of the powder products are greatly affected by different synthesis temperatures. The formation mechanisms of bismuth telluride nanostructures are also discussed.