Hydrothermal synthesis of flower-like Bi2S3 with nanorods in the diameter region of 30 nm

Flower-like Bi2S3 nanostructures consisting of nanorods with a lateral size of about 30 nm have been prepared via a thioglycolic acid (HSCH2COOH, TGA) assisted hydrothermal method. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern shows that the obtained flower-like Bi2S3 nanostructures are of orthorhombic phase. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) identifies that the flower-like Bi2S3 nanostructures are single crystalline in nature. It is believed that the sodium thiosulfate (STS) as the sulfur source could facilitate the formation of flower-like embryos and the TGA could enhance the anisotropic growth of Bi2S3 nanorods initiated from the embryos. STS and TGA play the key roles in the formation of flower-like Bi2S3 nanostructures during the hydrothermal process.