Synthesis of Bi2Te3 Nanosheets using Polyol Process

We attempted to synthesize the Bi2Te3 nanosheets through the polyol process. Bi2Te3 nanosheets were synthesized using two reactants of Bi(NO3)3 · 5H2O and TeO2 as precursor and tetraethyleneglycol (TEG) as polyol solvent. Influence of NaOH addition on the synthesis of Bi2Te3 nanosheets was investigated. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Dissolving TeO2 in NaOH aqueous solution before polyol process, the peak of TeO2 disappeared and the peak of Bi2Te3 became predominant. The crystals synthesized through the polyol process with NaOH had a two-dimensional structure with hexagon shape.