Tris(2-selenonicotinamide)bismuth(III)\nComplex as\na Promising Single-Source Precursor for Photoresponsive 2D-Bi<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> Nanostructures

Two-dimensional (2-D) Bi<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> nanostructures\nhave emerged as fine candidates due to their appealing performance\ntoward energy conversion and storage applications. In view of this,\na simple and economically viable method for their preparation is highly\ndesirable. Herein, we present the synthesis, characterization, and\nstructural elucidation of a new air-stable Bi-nicotinamide selenolate\ncomplex: [Bi{SeC<sub>5</sub>H<sub>3</sub>(3-CONH<sub>2</sub>)}<sub>3</sub>] (<b>1</b>). This complex serves as an efficient single-source\nmolecular precursor (SSP) for the facile preparation of phase-pure\nBi<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> nanostructures. The as-prepared Bi<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> nanostructures were characterized using microstructural\nanalyses such as powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), energy dispersive\nX-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and electron microscopy techniques to assess\ntheir phase purity, elemental composition, crystal structure, and\nmorphology. This study also attempts to understand the effect of reaction\nconditions on the crystallinity, size, and morphology of nanostructures.\nThe optical band gap of the nanostructures was tuned within the range\nof 1.9–2.0 eV, which is blue-shifted with respect to the corresponding\nbulk band gap and is suitable for energy conversion applications.\nLiquid junction photoelectrochemical cells fabricated from the as-prepared\nBi<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> nanostructure exhibit good photoresponsivity\nand decent photostability, which project them as amenable candidates\nfor alternative photon absorber materials.