Mechanistic consideration of ZnTe microspheres formation in a PVP-contained polyol system via hot injection method

[Display omitted] •- Homogeneous ZnTe microspheres were synthesized via a hot injection method.•- Amount of PVP affected the growth of Te rods as well as the ZnTe microspheres.•- Te rods were the sacrificial templates for the growth of ZnTe microspheres.•- ZnTe microspheres detached from Te rods during growth, leaving cavities inside them. Zinc telluride (ZnTe) microspheres have been synthesized in a polyol system with adding various amount of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP, K-90) at 200 °C via a hot injection method. The smallest sized ZnTe microspheres obtained in this study had an average size of 634 nm through reaction for 48 h using 518 mg of PVP. A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the formation process of ZnTe microspheres by conducting experiments from 0.2 h to 48 h. Nucleation and growth of ZnTe at the tips of Te rods in a PVP-contained polyol system were observed in sample reacted less than 1 h. More ZnTe microspheres and less Te rods were observed when the reaction was proceeded for longer time, suggesting that Te rods were the sacrificial template for the growth of ZnTe. Amount of PVP is the key factor of controlling dimensions of Te rods formed at the initial stage as well as the sizes of ZnTe microspheres by influencing the nucleation and growth rate of ZnTe. The obtained ZnTe microspheres at 48 h consisted of voids, which were originated by the detachment of ZnTe microspheres from Te rods after their growth.