Preparation of Semiconductor/Polymer Coaxial Nanocables by a Facile Solution Process

We report on the preparation of ultralong semiconductor tellurium/cross‐linked PVA coaxial nanocables with a core 20–30 nm in diameter and a surrounding sheath about 5–20 nm in thickness by a simple hydrothermal process. The length of these nanocables can be up to 500–800 μm. In the present synthesis PVA was used as the reducing agent to react with Na2TeO3, and it also serves as the capping reagent and the source of the sheaths. The synergistic effects of the interaction of cross‐linked PVA with the tellurium nanowires could play an important role in the formation of the morphology of the resulting products.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)