Large-scale CdX (X=S, Se) microtube arrays on glass substrate: transformation of CdOHCl microrod arrays by a simple template-sacrificing solution method

Large-scale arrayed CdX (X=S, Se) microtubes have been successfully prepared on glass substrate by a simple solution route. In this process, cadmium hydroxyl chloride (CdOHCl) microrod arrays, which could be directly grown on glass surface in solution of CdCl₂ and methenamine, were used not only as a source of cadmium but also as a new reactive template to fabricate these highly ordered cadmium chalcogenide tube arrays, and the orientation of CdOHCl microrods on glass substrate could be easily achieved by pretreating the glass surface with appropriate concentration of NaOH aqueous solution. The transformation from arrayed CdOHCl rods to CdS and CdSe microtube arrays were conducted in thioacetamide and Na₂SeSO₃ solution, respectively. The conversion was convenient, and no CdOHCl crystallites were detected in the final products measured by X-ray powder diffraction. The hexagonal prismatic morphology and orientation of CdOHCl rods were perfectly maintained in the as-prepared cadmium chalcogenide films according to scanning electron microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy was used to further characterize these microtube structures. The effect of NaOH pretreatment on CdOHCl orientation and the formation of tubular structures were also discussed.