Bi2Te3 nanostructures prepared by microwave heating

Abstract Bi 2 Te 3 hollow spheres with diameters of 50–100 nm, nanosaws with length 100–300 nm, and sheets have been successfully synthesized by a simple microwave heating method at 150 °C for 30 min using TeO 2 or Te powder, Bi(NO 3 ) 3 and HNO 3 in a mixed solvents of water, and ethylene glycol (EG). The effects of experimental parameters on the formation of the product were investigated. No Bi 2 Te 3 product could be obtained when using NaOH instead of HNO 3 under the same conditions. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction (ED).