Large-scale hydrothermal synthesis of SnS ₂ nanobelts

SnS ₂ nanobelts were successfully synthesized through a controllable solution-phase hydrothermal method on a large scale. The nanobelts have a very high yield, which is more than 95%, with widths ranging from 100 to 200 nanometers, lengths up to several micrometers and thicknesses ca. 10 nanometers. X-ray diffraction patterns, electronic diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectra, field emission scanning electron microscopy images, transmission electron microscopy images and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy investigated the phase structures, compositions, and morphologies of SnS ₂ nanobelts. Dodecanethiol played important roles in the process of SnS ₂ nanobelts formation and growth. The formation mechanism of SnS ₂ nanobelts was investigated and discussed on the basis of the experimental results.