Generation of onions and nanotubes of GaS and GaSe through laser and thermally induced exfoliation

Abstract

Although theoretical calculations have predicted that layered GaS and GaSe should form nanotube and related structures, they have not been prepared experimentally to date. We have carried out laser irradiation as well as thermal treatment of GaS and GaSe to cause exfoliation, which yielded onionlike structures and nanotubes by the rolling of the exfoliated sheets.