Template-free electrodeposition of tellurium nanostructures in a room-temperature ionic liquid
Abstract
We report template-free electrodeposition of tellurium (Te) 1D nanostructures at moderate temperature (<= 100 degrees C), using a piperidinium-based ionic liquid mixture: 1-ethyl-1-octylpiperidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide: 1-ethyl-1-octylpiperidinium bromide (EOPipTFSI:EOPipBr). Single crystalline nanowires were obtained, with diameter ranging from 30 nm to 200 nm depending on experimental conditions. A preferential growth was observed along the [001] direction. The presence of bromide is necessary for the growth of nanowires. The temperature plays also a major role: the crystallinity of Te nanowires is improved by increasing temperature, whereas more homogeneous size distribution is observed at lower temperature.