Rectangular or square, tapered, and single-crystal PbTe nanotubes

Abstract

Structurally uniform PbTe nanotubes with high crystal quality have been successfully synthesized via a thermal chemical reaction process. As-synthesized PbTe nanotubes displayed regularly rectangular or square faceted, tapered shape with a thickness as thin as ∼20–40 nm, and a length of several µm; each faceted PbTe nanotube is enclosed by four {100} crystal planes, and the tube axis is in the [100] direction; for a given tapered tube, the root reaches a diameter of ∼ 100–300 nm, and the tip size varies from several to tens of nanometers. Such special shape and available sizes can make the manipulations easier for use in scanning probes; a spacious internal tube cavity may be further filled with different materials leading to interesting thermoelectric nanodevices.