Synthesis and Characterization of Water-Soluble Arabinogalactan-Stabilized Bismuth Telluride Nanoparticles

Water-soluble nanocomposites consisting of arabinogalactan (AG)-stabilized Bi2Te3 nanoparticles with an average size of 32–44 nm were synthesized for the first time on the basis of the natural polysaccharide arabinogalactan and telluride ions generated from elemental tellurium in the system N2H4·H2O–KOH. The phase composition, morphology, and average size of Bi2Te3 nanoparticles were found to be determined by the conditions of their synthesis. Increase of the ratio AG/Bi3+/Te2– is accompanied by reduction of the degree of sphericity and increase of the average size of Bi2Te3 nanoparticles, as well as by the transition of the AG/Bi2Te3 nanocomposite from amorphous to amorphous–crystalline state.