Aqueous‐Solution Growth of GaP and InP Nanowires: A General Route to Phosphide, Oxide, Sulfide, and Tungstate Nanowires

Abstract

A general synthetic route has been developed for the growth of metal phosphide, oxide, sulfide, and tungstate nanowires in aqueous solution. In detail, cetyltrimethylammonium cations (CTA(+)) can be combined with anionic inorganic species along a co-condensation mechanism to form lamellar inorganic-surfactant intercalated mesostructures, which serve as both microreactors and reactants for the growth of nanowires. For example, GaP, InP, gamma-MnO(2), ZnO, SnS(2), ZnS, CdWO(4), and ZnWO(4) nanowires have been grown by this route. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the synthesis of GaP and InP nanowires in aqueous solution has been achieved. This strategy is expected to extend to grow nanowires of other materials in solution or by vapor transport routes, since the nanowire growth of any inorganic materials can be realized by selecting an appropriate reaction and its corresponding lamellar inorganic-surfactant precursors.

Synthesis of In/InP core–shell nanospheres and their transformation into InP hollow nanospheres

“…The exact mechanism of luminescence is not clear at present and further study is under way. Previous reports had shown that InP nanostructures usually emitted red light [13,16,29,30]. However, the InP products prepared in our experiments can emit blue light, which is different from the previous reports and increases the potential applications of InP nanomaterial.…”

“…Meanwhile, InP nanostructures can also be synthesized in solution systems. For instance, InP nanocrystals were obtained under ultrasonic irradiation from the reaction of InCl 3 ·4H 2 O, yellow phosphorus and KBH 4 in a mixed solvents of ethanol and benzene [14], monodispersed InP quantum dots were synthesized via the reaction between In 2 O 3 and yellow phosphorus in alkali aqueous [15], InP wires were prepared from the reaction of In 2 O 3 and yellow phosphorus with CTAB as surfactant in aqueous solution [16], InP nanocrystals with rod-like morphologies were obtained using InCl 3 ·4H 2 O, yellow phosphorus and NaBH 4 as reactants and employing C 17 H 35 CO 2 K as surfactant in aqueous ammonia [17]. However, the synthesis of InP 3D nanostructures such as hollow nanospheres, and flowerlike architectures has rarely been reported.…”

Indium phosphide nanowires and their applications in optoelectronic devices

“…For example, yellow phosphorus has been used with success, to produce InP NWs via PH 3 as an intermediate in an alkaline and pressurized environment, in a surfactant-templated system [75].…”

Effects of polyvinylpyrrolidone and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide on morphology of lead tungstate particles

“…Notably, solution synthesis has been widely used as one of the most effective approaches owing to the availability of flexible adjustment of the experimental parameters of the synthetic system [18][19][20][21][22]. Specifically, biomimetic or bio-inspired synthetic approach, which is easy, effective, and environmentally benign, has been recognized as a promising strategy for the fabrication of inorganic crystals with specific morphology and hierarchical architecture [23,24].…”