A template-free route to prepare Bi2S3 nanostructures

Single-crystalline Bi2S3 nanostructures have been synthesized by reacting BiCl3 with sodium thiosulfate via a simple solvothermal treatment. Various techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), UV-visible spectrometry (UV-vis) and photoluminescence spectrometry (PL) have been used to characterize the obtained products. The results show that the products are orthorhombic-structured Bi2S3 nanocrystals. By reacting in different solvents, the shapes of Bi2S3 nanostructures are changed obviously. The solvent effects are discussed in detailed, and the interior growth mechanism is proposed.