Open AccessSynthesis and characterization of Sb2Te3 nanostructures
Author(s) -
Zhang Guoxu Zhang Fan,
朱航天,
骆军,
梁敬魁,
饶光辉,
刘泉林
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
wuli xuebao
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.199
H-Index - 47
ISSN - 1000-3290
DOI - 10.7498/aps.59.7232
Subject(s) - materials science , nanostructure , nanowire , nanotechnology , nanoparticle , crystal (programming language) , chemical vapor deposition , van der waals force , thermoelectric effect , characterization (materials science) , chemical engineering , anisotropy , crystal structure , catalysis , crystal growth , atom (system on chip) , crystallography , optics , chemistry , molecule , physics , biochemistry , organic chemistry , computer science , embedded system , engineering , thermodynamics , programming language
Single-crystalline Sb2Te3 nanostructures, of which the bulk is one of the best thermoelectric materials at room temperature, are synthesized by chemical vapor deposition. The composition, crystal structure, and growth mechanism of the sample are investigated. According to our experimental results, Sb2Te3 normally grows into hexagonal nanoplates without using catalyst, but single-crystalline nanowires can be fabricated with Au nanoparticles as the catalyst. The growth mechanism of Sb2Te3 nanostructures is closely related to its anisotropic crystal structure. Sb2Te3 has a rhombohedral structure, which exhibits a layered anisotropy with the Te and Sb atom layers arranged along the c-axis. Moreover, there are two adjacent Te layers connected by van der Waals bonds. Therefore, Sb2Te3 prefers to grow into hexagonal plates in the ab-plane. When Au nanoparticles are used as the catalyst, the growth direction of the precipitated Sb2Te3 is restricted, leading to the formation of Sb2Te3 nanowires.