Partic. vol. 11 no. 5 pp. 614-617 (October 2013)
doi: 10.1016/j.partic.2012.06.007

Short communication

Solvothermal synthesis of trigonal selenium with butterfly-like microstructure

Kai Zeng, Shuguang Chen^*, Yande Song, Haibin Li, Fujin Li, Peng Liu

csustcsg@yahoo.com

Abstract

We present a facile synthesis of trigonal selenium with butterfly-like microstructure from elemental selenium via a solvothermal and aging route. By using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy to characterize the products, a possible growth mechanism is proposed. The solvothermal process promotes the dissolution of selenium in ethylenediamine to form a brown homogeneous [Se(en)_x] solution. By introducing acetone into this [Se(en)_x] solution, amorphous selenium nanoparticles were produced which then transformed into trigonal selenium, which further assembled along the c-axis to form hexagonal rods. Owing to stereo hindrance as well as to development of opposite lateral sides of the hexagonal rod in opposing directions, a butterfly-like microstructure consisting of two long outside rods and a short inner rod was obtained.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Selenium; Solution-phase; Butterfly-like; Crystal growth; Microstructure