  The structural and compositional stabilities of two dimensional 2D Bi2Te3 and
Bi2Se3 nanocrystals, produced by both colloidal synthesis and by liquid phase
exfoliation, were studied by in situ transmission electron microscopy TEM
during annealing at temperatures between 350 and 500 C. The sublimation process
induced by annealing is structurally and chemically anisotropic and takes place
through the preferential dismantling of the prismatic 011-0 type planes, and
through the preferential sublimation of Te or Se.
