Highly-crystalline γ-MnS nanosaws

We report here a straightforward method to fabricate single-crystal wurtzite-structured manganese sulfide nanosaws (gamma-MnS NSs) via a chemical vapor deposition technique, which can be extended to different types of binary chalcogenide-based 1D building blocks. Advanced spectroscopy and electron microscopy techniques were applied to reveal the structure, morphology and composition of these nanostructures. Our studies indicate that g-MnS NSs are of high crystalline quality and purity, exhibit high aspect ratio and have extrusive teeth with average tip size of approximately a couple of atoms. These NSs are structurally stable and do not present divergence in surface energy. The formation of the backsaw is governed by a vapor-liquid-solid growth mechanism, whereas the teeth are a result of a self-catalyzed growth process induced by the Mn-terminated (0001) surface. Our optical and electrochemical analyses indicate that g-MnS NSs can be used as efficient visible light emitters with an activation energy of similar to 40 meV, and as anode materials with improved cycling stability for LIBs. This bottom-up approach represents a step ahead to provide promising and potential Mn-based materials for high-performance LIB technology and optoelectronics, and adds a new member to the family of saw-like wurtzite-structured nanoribbons, such as CdSe and ZnS.