Thiol-mediated synthesis of transition metal and transition metal sulfide nanowires
- Publication Type:
- Thesis
- Issue Date:
- 2019
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In this work, I discuss my investigation into the bottom-up synthesis of metal and metal sulfide nanowires supported by a capping reagent. Capping reagents are chemical species that alter the crystal growth kinetics. Through their deployment, the scalable synthesis of low-symmetry nanocrystals (such as nanowires) can be achieved. Here, I show the synthesis of metal (Co, Ni) and binary metal sulfide (Co₉S₈, Ni₃S₂) nanowires by heat-up thermolysis of simple molecular precursors. Detailed analysis of the precursors and the reaction steps leading to nanowire growth is provided. The unusual reaction conditions enable new insights through 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶 characterisation using thermos-gravimetry with evolved gas analysis and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. This provides new understanding of the precursor conversion rates and identification of active chemical species that support 1D growth. To confirm the role ligand fragments play in shaping the crystal growth kinetics, substitution of the precursors was performed. It is further shown that anisotropic growth can selectively be tuned by deployment of the capping ligand species. Based on these new understandings, the high-yield synthesis of technologically important Co₉S₈ nanowires by chemical vapour deposition is presented.
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