Temperature-dependent growth of zinc-blende-structured ZnTe nanostructures

Zinc-blende-structured ZnTe nanostructures, periodically twinned nanowires and uniform nanoribbons, have been synthesized by the hydrogen-assisted thermal evaporation method in the presence of Au catalyst via the vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) growth mechanism. The formation of various nanostructures is dependent on the local temperature. Periodically twinned nanowires and uniform nanoribbons dominate at low- and high-temperature zone, respectively. Moreover, the transition from the twinned nanowire to the uniform nanoribbon takes place at the middle-temperature zone. Optical properties have been investigated by Raman spectrum and photoluminescence (PL) spectrum.