Effects of solvents and Sb sources on the morphologies of LaFe3CoSb12 nanopowders made by the hydro/solvo thermal method

Abstract

The thermoelectric LaFe3CoSb12 nanopowders were synthesized by the hydro/solvo thermal method. The effects of different solvents were investigated by using only the potassium antimony tartrate as Sb source. Also, the effects of the different Sb sources were investigated by using only water as solvent on the morphologies of the resulting nanopowders. The results show that a mixture of nanoparticles and nanorods can be obtained in aqueous solution of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide or ethylenediamine-tetra-acetic disodium salt. In ethylenediamine only nanorods can be obtained, and in ethylene glycol only nanoparticles can be obtained. The other morphologies of the LaFe3CoSb12, such as particle-like, nest-shaped, branch-shaped, or feather-like crystalline, can be synthesized in water by selecting a suitable Sb source.