Controlled synthesis of high crystalline bismuth sulfide nanorods: using bismuth citrate as a precursor

Well-segregated bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) nanorods with a high order of crystallinity have been successfully prepared from bismuth citrate by a simple reflux reaction in DMF at 160 °C. Bismuth citrate and thiourea act as the precursor materials. The products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM, HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Bismuth citrate, which is known to be a linear polymer, may play a critical role as a precursor and a template for the growth of linear Bi2S3 nanorods.