Bismuth Seed-Assisted Liquid-Phase Synthesis of Germanium Telluride Nanowires

Abstract

GeTe (GT) nanowires (NWs) were successfully synthesized using Bi seeds by a low-temperature solution-based process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show formation of straight and cylindrical shaped GT NWs together with spherical shaped Te particles. GT NWs were similar to 50-100 nm in diameter and similar to 2 mu m in length. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of as-prepared samples show formation of hexagonal Te, orthorhombic GeTe, and amorphous phase in the samples. The [008] growth of orthorhombic GeTe NWs was identified using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Ostwald ripening was proposed as a growth mechanism of GT NWs. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results on the samples reveal an apparently decreased melting point of GT.