Tellurium microtubes synthesized by thermal evaporation method

Abstract

Abstract Te microtubes with hexagonal cross sections were deposited on quartz substrates by thermal evaporation method of Te metal in an inert atmosphere without the presence of any catalyst. Tellurium was evaporated by heating at 600 °C and the Te gas was condensed on quartz substrates at 280–300 °C under a flow of argon maintained at 20 sccm for different evaporation times. Scanning electron microscopy observation demonstrated that the initial products mainly consisted of sphere‐like microparticles. With increasing the evaporation time these microparticles gradually evolved into complete microtubes and then into microrods. The diameters of the microtubes range from 30 to 70 µm and their lengths from 0.5 to 6 mm. Structural and chemical characterization using X‐ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectrometer, show that the Te microtubes consist of only the Te element and have a single phase hexagonal structure. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)