Single Crystalline Colloidal Quasi-Two-Dimensional Tin Telluride

TL;DR

This paper presents a simple colloidal synthesis method for creating single-crystalline, quasi-two-dimensional tin telluride nanostripes with tunable thickness and size, exhibiting IR absorption due to quantum confinement effects.

Contribution

A novel colloidal synthesis approach for producing high-quality, single-crystalline SnTe nanostripes with controlled dimensions and IR optical properties.

Findings

Nanostructures are single-crystalline with rock-salt structure.

Thickness can be tuned down to 30 nm.

IR absorption features indicate quantum confinement.

Abstract

Tin telluride is a narrow gap semiconductor with promising properties for IR optical applications and topological insulators. We report a convenient colloidal synthesis of quasi-two-dimensional SnTe nanocrystals through the hot-injection method in a non-polar solvent. By introducing the halide alkane 1-bromotetradecane as well as oleic acid and trioctylphosphine, the thickness of two dimensional SnTe nanostripes can be tuned down to 30 nm, while the lateral dimensional can reach 6 microns. The obtained SnTe nanostripes are single-crystalline with a rock-salt crystal structure. The absorption spectra demonstrate pronounced absorption features in the IR range revealing the effect of quantum confinement in such structures.