A facile method to the cube-like MnSe2 microcrystallines via a hydrothermal process

A convenient hydrothermal process was applied to prepare the cube-like MnSe2 microcrystallines through the reaction of MnSO4·H2O with Se and NaH2PO2·H2O in aqueous solution at 160 °C for 12 h. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that the product was the cubic phase of MnSe2 with cell parameter a=6.440 Å. The chemical composition of the MnSe2 was determined by XPS. The Raman spectrum of MnSe2 presented the peaks of the Se–Se stretching mode at 232.44 and 266.58 cm−1. The images of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) showed the cube-like morphology of the product with the edge length ranging from 20 to 30 μm. The formation mechanism of the MnSe2 microcrystallines was discussed as well.