Synthesis of Bismuth Pseudocubes by Thermal Decomposition of Bi₂Et₄

Bismuth pseudocubes were prepared by thermal decomposition of the novel subvalent metal organic precursor tetraethyldibismuthine Bi 2 Et 4 under kinetic control at low temperatures. The pseudocubes were characterized by XRD, SEM, HRTEM, EDX, and SAED, and the influence of the thermolysis temperature and of the capping agents NaN(SiMe 3 ) 2 and PVP* on the size- and shape-selective growth of these nanoparticles was investigated.