Effect of solvents on morphologies of PbTe nanostructures: Controllable synthesis of hollow and solid PbTe nanocubes by a solvothermal method

We demonstrate a facile solvothermal route to grow hollow and solid PbTe nanocubes. The hollow PbTe nanocubes were successfully achieved when EtOH was used as solvent in the presence of nonionic polymer PEG, while the solid PbTe nanocubes were obtained when EG was used as solvent in the presence of PEG, whilst keeping the other experimental conditions constant. The results indicate that the solvents used in reaction system play a key role to determine the interior structure of PbTe nanocubes. On the basis of the experimental results and analysis, a possible growth mechanism has been discussed in detail for the hollow and solid PbTe nanocubes.