A novel approach to Bi2Te3 nanorods by controlling oriented attachment

One-dimensional semiconductor materials Bi2Te3 nanocrystals, with a novel nanostructure we call ‘sheet-rod,’ can grow via a controlling oriented attachment. These rods are assembled through oriented attachment of the Bi2Te3 sheets in the assistance of EDTA additive, and the sheet-rods are homogeneous single crystals. The formation mechanism could be an ionic reaction involving a nucleation–aggregation–coarsening process. It is proved that this synthetic approach could be promising to self-assembled prepare one-dimensional nanocrystals of metals and semiconductors.