Solvent-assisted growth of Sb2Se3 nanocompounds from a single-source precursor under mild reaction conditions

Abstract

Nanorods of Sb₂Se₃ have been produced from a newly designed single-source precursor under assistance of ethylene glycol used as solvent without any surfactants or additives. The precursor, [(SbL₂Cl₂)Cl]₂·(CH₃)₂CO, 1 (L represents N,N-dimethyl selenourea)], has been easily synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy. The extensive network of NH–Cl bonds present in the crystal packing of the complex promoted the formation of Sb₂Se₃, leaving HCl in the reaction medium. The Sb₂Se₃ nanocompounds have been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mechanism of formation of Sb₂Se₃ has been proposed and rationalized on the basis of TEM and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) observations of the intermediates throughout the solvent-assisted growth and mass spectral analysis of the reaction mixture during the process.