Solvothermally Synthesized Sb2Te3 Platelets Show Unexpected Optical Contrasts in Mid-Infrared Near-Field Scanning Microscopy.

We report nanoscale-resolved optical investigations on the local material properties of Sb2Te3 hexagonal platelets grown by solvothermal synthesis. Using mid-infrared near-field microscopy, we find a highly symmetric pattern, which is correlated to a growth spiral and which extends over the entire platelet. As the origin of the optical contrast, we identify domains with different densities of charge carriers. On Sb2Te3 samples grown by other means, we did not find a comparable domain structure.

Shape without Structure: An Intriguing Formation Mechanism in the Solvothermal Synthesis of the Phase-Change Material Sb2 Te3.

We introduce a novel solvothermal synthesis of individual single crystalline Sb2 Te3 micro- and nanocrystals as a model material for phase-change switching. We identified different intermediates along the reaction path to the final Sb2 Te3 hexagonal platelets (HPs) and discuss their forming mechanism. By means of nanodiffraction (ND) in a scanning transmission electron microscope we demonstrate that the intermediates follow a hexagonal shape evolution in the amorphous state. In situ nanomanipulator measurements reveal electrical phase-change switching properties of the individual Sb2 Te3 hexagonal platelets.