Cu(2 − X)Te nanowires synthesized by a microwave-assisted solvothermal method using a self-sacrificial template and their electrical conductivity

A commonly used method for the synthesis of one-dimensional (1-D) nanostructures of metal tellurides is to employ 1-D nanostructured elemental tellurium as a reactive and self-sacrificial (RSS) template which can participate in the reaction, convert into the designed products and disappear eventually without the additional steps to remove the template. Herein, we report a rapid microwave-assisted solvothermal method by employing Te nanotubes as the RSS template to prepare Cu(2 − X)Te single-crystalline nanowires with diameters of 100–200 nm and lengths of several micrometers. The products are characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS, SAED and FTIR. The electrical conductivity of the Cu(2 − X)Te nanowire tablet sample prepared by a room-temperature pressurized method is also investigated.

► We report a microwave-assisted solvothermal rapid synthesis of Cu(2 − X)Te nanowires. ► Elemental Te nanotubes are adopted as a reactive and self-sacrificial template. ► The electrical conductivity of Cu(2 − X)Te nanowires is investigated.