Top-down fabrication of nano-scaled Bi2Se(0.3)Te(2.7) associated by electrochemical Li intercalation.

A convenient top-down method for preparation of Bi(2)Se(0.3)Te(2.7) crystalline nano-particles has been demonstrated. It contains two steps: (1) lithium was intercalated between the van der Waals bonded quintuple-layers by electrochemical process inside lithium ion batteries with precisely controlled speed and amount; (2) subsequent alcohol exposure of Li(x)Bi(2)Se(0.3)Te(2.7) to make the intercalated Li atoms explode like atom-scaled bombs and exfoliate the original micro/macro scaled materials into nano-scaled single crystalline particles with sizes around 10 nm. The intercalation process does not cost external energy, and can be scaled up by amplification of the intercalation devices.