Morphology Control of Bi2S3 Nanostructures and the Formation Mechanism

Abstract Bismuthinite (Bi 2 S 3 ) nanostructures were prepared by a hydrothermal method with sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA‐Na 2 ). The morphology of Bi 2 S 3 nanostructures was changed from a nanorod to a nanoplate by presence of the EDTA‐Na 2 . The altered morphology was caused by the capping effect of EDTA‐Na 2 with Bi 3+ ions, which induces the suboptimal growth direction due to partially blocking the preferential orientation direction. When the EDTA‐Na 2 /Bi 3+ molar ratio=1, the growth of Bi 2 S 3 nanostructures was not allowed due to the chelating effect of EDTA‐Na 2 . The obtained Bi 2 S 3 nanorods, stacked nanorods, nanoplates and nanoparticles were characterized using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern. A possible formation mechanism of these morphologies was proposed. The successful synthesis of various morphologies of nanostructured Bi 2 S 3 may open up new possibilities for thermoelectric, electronic and optoelectronic uses of nanodevices based on Bi 2 S 3 nanostructure.