title: Catalyst-free vapour-solid technique for deposition of Bi2Te3 and Bi2Se3 nanowires/nanobelts with topological insulator properties.
abstract: We present a simple two-stage vapour-solid synthesis method for the growth of bismuth chalcogenide (Bi2Te3, Bi2Se3) topological insulator nanowires/nanobelts by using Bi2Se3 or Bi2Te3 powders as source materials. During the first stage of the synthesis process nanoplateteles, serving as "catalysts" for further nanowire/nanobelt growth, are formed. At a second stage of the synthesis, the introduction of a N2 flow at 35 Torr pressure in the chamber induces the formation of free standing nanowires/nanobelts. The synthesised nanostructures demonstrate a layered single-crystalline structure and Bi : Se and Bi : Te ratios 40 : 60 at% for both Bi2Se3 and Bi2Te3 nanowires/nanobelts. The presence of Shubnikov de Haas oscillations in the longitudinal magneto-resistance of the nanowires/nanobelts and their specific angular dependence confirms the existence of 2D topological surface states in the synthesised nanostructures.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Physics, University of Latvia, LV-1586, Riga, Latvia. donats.erts@lu.lv.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Andzane
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kunakova
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Charpentier
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hrkac
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kienle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baitimirova
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bauch
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Erts