Synthesis and magnetotransport properties of Bi₂Se₃ nanowires

Bi₂Se₃, as a three-dimensional topological insulator, has attracted worldwide attention for its unique surface states which are protected by time-reversal symmetry. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of high-quality single-crystalline Bi₂Se₃ nanowires. Bi₂Se₃ nanowires were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method via gold-catalyzed vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism. The structure and morphology were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. In magnetotransport measurements, the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect was observed in a nanowire-based nanodevice, suggesting the existence of surface states in Bi₂Se₃ nanowires.