en.Wedoany.com Reported - Researchers from the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester and Sun Yat-sen University have, for the first time, used liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy to record in real time the formation and growth of semiconducting tellurium nanostructures in a liquid environment.
Tellurium is an important semiconductor material widely used in electronic, thermoelectric, and optoelectronic devices, with its performance largely dependent on the shape and size of its nanostructures. Precisely controlling its growth process is crucial for optimizing device performance. Previously, scientists were unable to directly observe the nucleation and growth details of tellurium nanostructures in a liquid-phase environment.
Using liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy, the research team observed the entire process of tellurium precipitating from solution and spontaneously organizing into nanostructures. Initially, spherical "seed" particles appeared in the solution, from which elongated nanowires grew. As growth progressed, multiple nanowires began competing for the available tellurium feedstock in the solution, leading to significant differences in growth rates and branching patterns among the nanowires.
Quantitative measurements showed that the growth rate ranged from approximately 1 to 15 nanometers per second, depending on the electron beam irradiation conditions and the presence of neighboring nanowires. This study is the first to quantitatively correlate local growth kinetics with actual competition among nanostructures in solution.
The study also found that adding bismuth nanoparticles to the system significantly altered the formation mechanism of tellurium. The addition of bismuth increased the number of nucleation sites, leading to the formation of more branched, "fern-like" structures. Additional electrodeposition experiments confirmed that bismuth reduces the potential required for tellurium deposition and increases the total yield of tellurium material under the same conditions.
The researchers stated that real-time growth observations make it possible to predict and control system behavior under standard synthesis conditions. Professor Sarah Haigh noted that this is the first direct observation of the emergence and evolution of tellurium nanowires in a liquid environment, which will help achieve more precise control over their shape and structure. Study co-author Yi-Chao Zou added that the effect of bismuth is reproducible in both microscopy experiments and classical electrodeposition, opening new pathways for the directed design of nanostructures.
The authors believe that the strategy combining liquid-phase electron microscopy with controllable additives can not only describe but also direct the nucleation and growth mechanisms of nanomaterials. This approach is expected to accelerate the development of tellurium nanostructures for electronic devices, energy conversion, and sensor applications, which require precise parameters at the nanoscale.
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