A Solvothermal Route to Nanocrystalline Cu7Te4 at Low Temperature

Nanocrystalline Cu7Te4 was directly synthesized by the reaction of CuCl2·2H2O and tellurium in an autoclave with ethylenediamine as solvent at 160°C for 10 h. X-ray powder diffraction patterns, X-ray photoelectron spectra, and transmission electron microscope images show that the products are hexagonal Cu7Te4 phase and well crystallized with an average size of about 15 nm. The solvent ethylenediamine played an important role in the synthesis of nanocrystalline Cu7Te4. The reaction mechanism was proposed.