Long-chain amine-templated synthesis of gallium sulfide and gallium selenide nanotubes

• DOI: 10.1039/c6nr01663d
• Publication Date: 2016-05-17T08:33:48Z
• Authors: A. Seral-Ascaso; S. Metel; A. Pokle; C. Backes; C. J. Zhang; H. C. Nerl; K. Rode; N. C. Berner; C. Downing; N. McEvoy; E. Muñoz; A. Harvey; Z. Gholamvand; G. S. Duesberg; J. N. Coleman; V. Nicolosi
• Keywords: Chalcogen; Selenide

We describe the soft chemistry synthesis of amine-templated gallium chalcogenide nanotubes through reaction gallium(III) acetylacetonate and chalcogen (sulfur, selenium) using a mixture long-chain amines (hexadecylamine dodecylamine) as solvent. Beyond their role solvent, also act template, directing growth discrete units with one-dimensional multilayer tubular nanostructure. These new materials, which broaden family amine-stabilized chalcogenides, can be tentatively classified direct large band gap semiconductors. Their preliminary performance active material for electrodes in lithium ion batteries has been tested, demonstrating great potential energy storage field even without optimization.