Chemical transformation of SnSe bulk crystals to Se nanowires and their thermoelectric application

Se nanowires are one of the chalcogenide-based nanostructures that have attracted interest in various research fields because of their unique characteristics. Herein, we report on the fabrication of Se nanowires from bulk... [ view full abstract ]

Se nanowires are one of the chalcogenide-based nanostructures that have attracted interest in various research fields because of their unique characteristics. Herein, we report on the fabrication of Se nanowires from bulk SnSe crystals through an organic acid-assisted chemical transformation process. During the reaction process, the concentration of organic acid is critical to control the morphology of final products. Se nanowires with the diameter of ~40 nm and length of ~1 μm are obtained after the transformation, and we suggest reaction mechanism for the chemical transformation of SnSe. The effect of Se nanoparticles on the thermoelectric behaviors in SnSe is also investigated and discussed. The Se nanowires and Se/SnSe composite in this study will open up new possibilities to various applications with excellent performances