A simple method for the deposition of nanostructured tellurium synthesized in ammonia solution

In this work, we report a highly adherent, and uniform deposition of nanostructured tellurium. The deposition of the nanostructured tellurium was realized by the dripping of a modified solution of NaHTe based on the dissolution of NaBH4 and tellurium powder in an aqueous solution of NH4OH. This method allowed the relatively simple manipulation of tellurium nanostructures under laboratory ambient, without requiring the use of organic stabilizers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was realized on a powder sample obtained by the reaction between H2Te and aqueous solution of NH4OH. TEM analysis indicated that tellurium nanorods and Y-type nanostructures are grown from tellurium nanoparticles, such as in a hydrothermal system. Then, the nanoparticles serve as seeds for the growth of more extended tellurium nanostructures. Electron diffraction and X-ray diffraction analysis showed that depositions have the hexagonal structure of tellurium highly oriented on (101) direction.