A Novel Sb₂Te₃ Polymorph Stable at the Nanoscale

Abstract

We report on the MOCVD synthesis of Sb₂Te₃ nanowires that self-assemble in a novel metastable polymorph. The nanowires crystallize in a primitive trigonal lattice (<i>P</i>3̅<i>m</i>1 SG #164) with lattice parameters <i>a</i> = <i>b</i> = 0.422 nm, and <i>c</i> = 1.06 nm. The stability of the polymorph has been studied by first principle calculations: it has been demonstrated that the stabilization is due to the particular side-wall faceting, finding excellent agreement with the experimental observations