Low temperature rapid preparation of selenium nanostructures in the presence of food surfactants

In this paper, Se nanostructures have been successfully synthesized via a rapid wet chemical reduction route in the presence of potassium sorbate, a food surfactant, employing SeO2 and KBH4 as the starting reactants at 50 °C for 30 min. Some factors influencing the morphology of Se nanostructures such as the amounts and sorts of surfactants, the reaction temperature and the reaction time were investigated. The as-obtained Se nanostructures were characterized by X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR/TEM). A possible formation process of Se nanostructures was discussed based on the experimental results.

► 1D Se nanostructures were successfully synthesized via a rapid wet chemical reduction route at 50 °C for 30 min.
► Potassium sorbate, a food surfactant, was used as the shape-controlled reagent.
► Proper amounts of potassium sorbate played a crucial role in the formation of 1D t-Se nanostructures.
► Higher reaction temperature was unfavorable for the production of 1D t-Se nanostructures.