One-step hydrothermal formation of Bi2O3 nanourchins with radially ultrathin nanotubes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1143/JPSJ.79.094802

A novel Bi₂O₃ urchin-like microarchitecture with high-density radially oriented Bi₂O₃ nanotubes (NTs) was fabricated by a one-step hydrothermal approach without any template or surfactant at a relative low temperature of 90 °C. The radial Bi ₂O₃ NTs on the surface of nanourchins (NUs) were 4-7nm in diameter and ～ 1.7 μm in length. The mean wall thickness of the NTs was as thin as 1.5 nm. Based on the time-dependent evolutions of morphology examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM), a rolling-up mechanism was demonstrated to explain the formation of the ultrathin Bi₂O ₃ NTs. The ultrathin and long NTs bring on the high surface-to-volume ratios of the Bi₂O₃ urchin-like microarchitectures, which makes them great potential applications in gas sensors, photocatalysis, environmental purification, and solar energy conversion.