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Coral-shaped nanocrystallites of Cu3BiS3 and AgBiS2 have been synthesized at 195°C from single-source precursors by a rapid polyol process. X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectra and transmission electron microscope were used to characterize the products, which reveal that the products are phase-pure coral-shaped nanostructures. The formation mechanism is also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

ZnSe spheres with diameters of about 1 μm have been prepared via a rapid polyol process by refluxing the raw materials in ethylene glycol at 195°C for only 1 h; the X-ray diffraction pattern indicated that the as-prepared sample is cubic ZnSe phase. The products were also characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, FT-IR, Raman and field-emission scanning electron microscope procedures. And studies found that the reaction time had great influence on the morphology of the products. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Metal sulfides MS (M=Cd, Zn, Co, Pb, Cu), M2S3 (M=Bi, Sb), M2S (M=Ag) were successfully synthesized through a one-step reaction between metal salts and thiourea in ethylene glycol (EG) under the microwave irradiation. The products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and electron diffraction (ED). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Carbon nanotubes were synthesized via a single-source precursor route at 500 °C, using iron carbonyl both as carbon source and catalyst. The X-ray power diffraction pattern indicates that the products are hexagonal graphite. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images of the sample reveal carbon nanotubes with an average inner (outer) diameter of 30 nm (60 nm). High-resolution TEM indicates that fabrication of the carbon nanotube walls was composed of ca. 40 graphene layers. The Raman spectrum shows two strong peaks at 1587 and 1346 cm−1, corresponding to the typical Raman peaks of graphitized carbon nanotubes. This method avoids the separation of raw material from solvent and simplifies the operation process. At the same time, the research provides a new route to large-scale synthesis of carbon nanotubes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

SnS2 films have been deposited on glass and alumina plate substrates by the reactions between an organotin precursor [tetrabuyltin, (CH2CH2CH2CH3)4Sn] and carbon disulfide in n-hexane at the temperature range 180–200 °C for 10–40 h. The reaction system was oxygen free and applied at a moderate temperature. The films so prepared were characterized by techniques of X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, Raman and Mo¨ssbauer spectroscopies. The films deposited on glass as well as on alumina plate have an average thickness of 30 μm, but have different rose-like morphologies, which are influenced by both the anisotropic growths of crystals and the different substrate structures. Photoluminescence measurements show that the films have an emission peak at approximately 590 nm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The synthesis and characterization of hollow nanospheres, nanowires and coaxial nanowires of cubic phase silicon carbide (β-SiC) were reported. The reaction between SiCl4 (or Si powders), C6Cl6 and sodium was used to prepare SiC nanostructures at different temperature. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction (ED), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman, photoluminescence (PL) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) procedures. Studies found that temperature and reagents were key factors for the samples’ morphologies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A convenient hydrothermal decomposition process has been developed to prepare cupric oxide shuttle-like nanocrystals using CuCl2·H2O and NaOH as the starting materials. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that the as-prepared CuO shuttle-like crystals have regular shape, uniform size distribution and with high yield. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The novel polygonal flake like Ag8SnS6 crystal, Cu2FeSnS4 flaky, and well-dispersed Cu2CoSnS4 nanoparticles were successfully prepared via a convenient hydrothermal reaction route at relatively low temperature, which was avoiding the use of high temperature treatments or toxic organic solvents. The products were characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectronic spectra (XPS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). It was found that the reaction temperature played a key role for the formation of the target products. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A simple and convenient polyol-mediated route has been developed to produce nanocrystalline Ag3SbS3 and Cu3SbS3 from AgNO3 and Cu(NO3)2 and SbCl3 with thiourea at 197 °C. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Analysis shows that glycol agitated state and injection rate have a great effect on the purity of the final products. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

BaWO4 crystals with different morphology, such as olive-like, flake-like, and whisker-like structure have been successfully prepared through a hydrothermal process in the presence of different surfactants—C17H33COOK, C19H39COOK, and C25H51COOK, respectively. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) shows that the crystals have been well crystallized. The observation results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the obtained samples have revealed that the selection of surfactants and the concentration of the starting materials can highly affect the morphology and size of BaWO4 crystals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nanocrystalline ZrC has been prepared via a convenient route by the reaction of metallic magnesium powder with zirconium oxide and lithium carbonate in an autoclave at 600°C. X-ray powder diffraction pattern indicated that the product was cubic zirconium carbide, and the cell constant was a =4.693Å. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image showed particles with an average size of about 30nm. The product was also studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It had good oxidation resistance below 250°C in air. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nanocrystalline gallium nitride was synthesized by a solid-state reaction of metallic magnesium powder, gallium sesquioxide and sodium amide in a stainless steel autoclave at a relatively low temperature (400–550°C). The structures and morphologies of the obtained products were derived from X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD patterns indicated that the products were hexagonal GaN (JCPDS card no. 76-0703). The influence of reaction temperature on size of the products was studied by XRD and TEM. Furthermore, the thermal stability and oxidation resistance of the nanocrystalline GaN were also investigated. It had good thermal stability and oxidation resistance below 800°C in air. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hierarchical cobalt dendrites with ferromagnetic properties have been synthesized by using the in situ produced cobalt carbonate together with cobalt oxalate as precursor and hypophosphite (H2PO2 −) as the reducing agent in mixed solutions at 160 °C. XRD and SAED patterns reveal that the as-prepared cobalt dendrites have a single-crystalline structure with a [001] growth orientation. The shape evolution of the hierarchical cobalt dendrites was investigated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nanocrystalline chromium nitride (CrN) has been synthesized by reacting metallic chromium (Cr) powder with sodium azide (NaN3) at the temperature range of 450–550°C. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This work shows that it is very simple to synthesize CrN nanocrystalline and opens a wide route towards synthesis of other metallic nitrides. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nanocrystalline boron nitride (BN) was prepared by the reaction of BBr3 and Mg3N2 at 400 °C. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) patterns can be indexed as hexagonal BN with the lattice constants of a=2.504 and c=6.671 Å. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed whisker-like and flake-like morphology. The product was also characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS) and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Zirconium phosphide (ZrP) has been synthesized via a sodium co reduction of ZrCl4 and PCl3 at 350 °C. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) pattern can be indexed as cubic ZrP with the lattice constant a=5.25 Å. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image indicates the product has dendritic morphology and hexagonal flakes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nanocrystalline ZrB2 has been prepared by the reaction of ZrCl4 with NaBH4 in the temperature range of 500–700 °C. The microstructure of the powders consists of uniform particles about 20 nm in size. The UV–vis absorption spectra and thermal oxidation behavior of the products are studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The microwave-assisted synthesis is generally much faster, cleaner, and more economical than the conventional methods. Here, dendritic crystals of AgBiS2 were synthesized in aqueous solution under microwave irradiation for 30 min. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern indicates that the product is in the pure cubic phase. The product is also characterized by the techniques of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The direct polyol method is used to prepare silver bismuth sulfide AgBiS2 nanorods. X-ray powder diffraction patterns indicate that AgBiS2 is cubic with a cell constant a=5.651 A˚. Transmission electron microscopy images reveal that the product consists of uniform rod-like crystals with diameters of about 40 nm and lengths up to 10 μm. A possible formation mechanism of silver bismuth sulfide is proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A novel mild solution route, polyol route, was developed to synthesize nanoscale tin sulfides (SnS and SnS2) flaky crystallines. XRD procedure reveals that the products are well crystallized. TEM observation shows that the products are of uniform flaky structure with irregular drapes. And the possible formation mechanism is also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Corundum structure Sn-doped In2O3 nanoparticles were first synthesized by a controlled co-precipitating and postannealing method. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), electron diffraction (ED), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) were used to characterize the products, indicating that the products were well-crystallized Sn-doped In2O3 nanoparticles with corundum structure. The particles were spherical in shape with sizes in the range of 10–20 nm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]