Facile sonochemical synthesis of tellurium and tellurium dioxide nanoparticles: Reducing Te(IV) to Te via ultrasonic irradiation in methanol

In this study, tellurium (Te) nanostructures were synthesized via a facile sonochemical method by reducing TeCl4 to Te under ultrasonic irradiation in methanol. Moreover, by carrying out the reaction in an alkaline environment TeO2 nanoparticles were produced. According to our knowledge, it is the first time that without secondary reducing agent Te4+ are reduced to Te. Also, the effects of ultrasonic power, irradiation time, solvent, and surfactant on the morphology and particle size of Te nanostructures were investigated. The obtained products were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, FT-IR and DRS.