Controlled Hydrothermal Synthesis of Thin Single-Crystal Tellurium Nanobelts and Nanotubes

Thin single-crystal tellurium nanobelts and nanotubes have been created by the hydrothermal disproportionation of Na2TeO3 in aqueous ammonia solution, without the presence of any catalysts or templates. It appears that tellurium nanobelts with a helical pitch can be coaxed into chiral nanotubes under these conditions, presenting the promise of a new nanotube synthesis route (see Figure).