Single-crystal Bi2S3 nanosheets growing via attachment-recrystallization of nanorods.

High-quality Bi(2)S(3) discrete single-crystal nanosheets with orthorhombic structure have been synthesized through the thermal decomposition of a single-source precursor, Bi(S(2)CNEt(2))(3), in amine media. The morphology evolution reveals that the Bi(2)S(3) nanosheets are developed through the assembly of nanorods, and an attachment-recrystallization growth mechanism is proposed for the formation of nanosheets with the use of nanorods as building blocks. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies reveal that the nanosheets have the largest exposed surface of (100) facets. The effects of experimental variables, such as the reaction temperature, time, precursor concentration, and media, on the morphology of the obtained nanocrystals have been systematically investigated in which the amine has served as the solvent, surfactant, and electron donor.