Mo6S4.5I4.5 Nanowires: Structure Studies by High Resolution Transmission Microscopy and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy

Keywords:
MoxSyIz nanowires, crystallographic structure, HRTEM, STEM

Abstract:
In the last few years Carbon Nanotubes have attracted a great deal of attention because of their interesting properties, including dependence of their chemical and electronic behaviour on their small dimension, high anisotropy and tube-like structure. Since nanotubes are difficult to process, one-dimensional inorganic nanowires have been receiving growing attention as a viable alternative to nanotubes. The most promising of these are the Mo6S9-xIx family. Easy fabrication, easy dispersability and processability, and uniformity in terms of metallic character as well as diameter, makes Mo6S9-xIx nanowires one of the most promising one-dimensional materials. We present an Atomic Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy study of the atomic structure of Mo6S4.5I4.5 nanowires. Combination of electron microscopy, crystallographic and electron microscopy-simulated studies has been used to produce the atomic structure on the nanowires. Density Functional calculations of the structural stability and electronic structure confirm the experimental High Resolution TEM evidences. Further Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) structure studies have been carried out to better understand the complex packing process of the single nanowires in bundles.

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Nanotech 2005 Conference Program Abstract