Bismuth, tellurium, and bismuth telluride nanowires

Decomposition of the precursor Bi[N(SiMe3)(2)](3) in the presence of poly(1-hexadecene)(0.67)-co-(1-vinylpyrrolidinone)(0.33) and a small amount of NaN(SiMe3)(2) in 1,3-diisopropylbenzene solution at 203 degreesC gives Bi nanowires. The single-crystal line wires are several micrometers in length, and possess a mean diameter of 5.9 +/- 2.4 nm. Decomposition of TeCl4 in the presence of TOPO in polydecene solution at 250-300 degreesC gives Te nanowires. These nanowires are also single crystals exhibiting micrometer lengths. The Te nanowire mean diameters are in the range of 30-60 nm, and depend upon the reaction conditions employed. Attempts to grow Bi2Te3 nanowires from reactions of Bi- and Te-containing molecular precursors produce other Bi2Te3 crystallite morphologies. Efforts to convert Bi nanowires into Bi2Te3 nanowires are also unsuccessful. However, reactions of Te nanowires and BiPh3 in polydecene solution at 160 degreesC do afford continuous Bi2Te3 nanowires, having micrometer lengths and mean diameters larger than those of the precursor Te nanowires. The Bi2Te3 nanowires are found to be encased in amorphous sheath structures, which apparently enforce the one-dimensional wire morphologies.