Bi2Te3 nanostructures prepared by microwave heating

Bi2Te3 hollow spheres with diameters of 50–100 nm, nanosaws with length 100–300 nm, and sheets have been successfully synthesized by a simple microwave heating method at 150 °C for 30 min using TeO2 or Te powder, Bi(NO3)3 and HNO3 in a mixed solvents of water, and ethylene glycol (EG). The effects of experimental parameters on the formation of the product were investigated. No Bi2Te3 product could be obtained when using NaOH instead of HNO3 under the same conditions. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction (ED).