Synthesis of Ultra-long Hollow Mercury Selenide (HgSe) Chalcogenide Nanofibers from Co and  Ni Sacrificial Nanofibers

Nche George Ndifor-Angwafor; Mominou Nchare; Tchuifon Tchuifon Donald Raoul; Ngakou Sadeu Christian; Anagho Solomon Gabche; Nosang V. Myung

Nche George Ndifor-Angwafor Research Unit of Noxious Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon.
Mominou Nchare School of Geology, Mining and Minerals Processing (E.G.E.M de Meiganga), University of Ngaoundere. P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundere, Cameroon.
Tchuifon Tchuifon Donald Raoul Research Unit of Noxious Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon.
Ngakou Sadeu Christian Research Unit of Noxious Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon.
Anagho Solomon Gabche Research Unit of Noxious Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, Cameroon.
Nosang V. Myung Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.

Keywords: Co nanofiber, Ni nanofiber, galvanic displacement, HgSe chalcogenide

Abstract

A general synthetic method has been used to fabricate Co and Ni nanofibers. By using the electrospinning technique followed by galvanic displacement reaction, we have successfully prepared ultra-long hollow chalcogen and chalcogenide nanofibers. The outstanding features of this approach to get ultra-long sacrificial nanofibers with controlled dimensions and morphology, thereby imparting control over the composition and shape of the nanostructures evolved during galvanic displacement reaction are its simplicity, effectiveness and ease of assembly. The aim of this study is to exploit the structural and compositional changes during the formation of HgSe chalcogenide with a view of fabricating a mercury sensor.