Preparation of filled skutterudite nanowire by a hydrothermal method

Filled skutterudite NaFe4P12 single crystalline nanowires were synthesized hydrothermally by the reaction of iron chloride, sodium hydroxide and white phosphorus at 160-180degreesC. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, Raman scattering and elemental analysis methods were used to characterize the product. The NaFe4P12 nanowires obtained at 160-180degreesC are 25-80 nm in diameter and 500-4000 nm in length, depending on the heating conditions. This method is a simple means of forming thermoelectric quantum wires. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.