Ultrasonic-assisted size-controllable synthesis of Bi2Te3 nanoflakes with electrogenerated chemiluminescence

Bi2Te3 hexagonal nanoflakes with controllable edge length ranging from ∼150 nm to as small as ∼10 nm were synthesized via an ultrasonic-assisted disproportionation route, using Te powder and Bi(NO3)3 · 5H2O as raw materials. The mechanochemical effects of the ultrasonic irradiation accelerated the reaction and were helpful to obtain relatively small and uniform nanocrystals. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectra, transmission electron microscopy, and selected area electron diffraction techniques. Electrogenerated chemiluminescence of as-prepared Bi2Te3 was also reported for the first time.