Fast growth of pure V2O5 nanoparticles by low-cost hydrothermal process

Abstract

Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanorods were successfully grown through an easy, quick and clean hydrothermal method using vanadium oxide sols (V2O5.1,6H2O) as precursor. Structurals studies based on the X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy revealed that the synthesized nanomaterials are pure divanadium pentoxide with an orthorhombic phase. The morphological properties and the particle size of the developed V2O5 nanoparticles were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). The results show that the as-grown samples consist of a large amount of one-dimensional V2O5 nanorods with the widths approximately 52 nm and the lengths are up to several hundred nanometers. The effects of different growth conditions, such as hydrothermal duration and stirring temperature of the precursor on the formation of the nanorods has been recorded. Moreover, the structural and morphological properties of the resulting nanopowders have been experimentally studied. Time-dependent experiments showed that V2O5.1,6H2O were dehydrated progressively and transformed into orthorhombic V2O5 single-crystalline nanorods. It has been established that high stirring temperature of the precursor is benefical for the formation of V2O5 nanorods and minimizes the duration time of the heat treatment. Hence the adjusted parameters (time and temperature) appears to be the key element to achieving the desired nanomaterial with defined forms.