Nanocrystalline tin as a preparative tool: synthesis of unprotected nanoparticles of SnTe and SnSe and a new route to (PhSe)4Sn.

The reactions of nanocrystalline tin metal (Sn*) with elemental selenium and tellurium and with the diaryldichalcogenides Ph2Se2 and Ph2Te2 have been investigated. Reaction of Sn* with the soluble tellurium source Ph2Te2 led to a clean formation of nanoparticles of cubic SnTe. Dependent on the concentration of Ph2Te2, the particles sizes could be varied between 15 and 60 nm in average, whereas the reaction of Sn* with Ph2Se2 formed molecular Sn(SePh)4 in high yield. The latter molecular compound was thermolyzed at 300 degrees C, yielding nanocrystalline SnSe with a broader distribution of size. The nanoparticles of SnTe were thoroughly investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and powder X-ray diffraction. The reactions of Sn* with elemental selenium and tellurium gave single- phase but microcrystalline SnSe and SnTe.