Microwave-assisted synthesis of nanocrystalline Bi2Te3

Nanocrystalline Bi2Te3 was synthesised via a microwave-assisted polyol method. Elemental Te and bismuth nitrate were used as Te and Bi source, respectively. The product was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and transmission electron micrographs (TEM) measurements. The as-prepared Bi2Te3 was found to be the mixture of nanorods (20–50 nm in width and 200–400 nm in length) and hexagon nanoflakes (with edge length ranging from 90 to 150 nm). The possible mechanisms were also discussed.