Solution-Based
Synthesis of GeTe Octahedra at Low
Temperature
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Abstract
GeTe
octahedra were prepared by reaction of equimolar amounts of
GeCl<sub>2</sub>·dioxane and Te(SiEt<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> in oleylamine, whereas a slight excess of the Te precursor yielded
GeTe octahedra decorated with elemental Te nanowires, which can be
removed by washing with TOP. The mechanism of the GeTe formation is
strongly influenced by the solvent. The expected elimination of Et<sub>3</sub>SiCl (dehalosilylation) only occurred in aprotic solvents,
whereas Te(SiEt<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> was found to react with primary
and secondary amines with formation of silylamines. Temperature-dependent
studies on the reaction in oleylamine showed that crystalline GeTe
particles are formed at temperatures higher than 140 °C. XRD,
SAED, and HRTEM studies proved the formation of rhombohedral GeTe
nanoparticles. These findings were confirmed by a single-crystal and
powder X-ray analysis. The rhombohedral structure modification was
found, and the structure was solved in the acentric space group <i>R</i>3<i>m</i>