A facile hydrothermal synthesis and growth mechanism of novel hollow β-MnO2 polyhedral nanorods

• Published in: Materials chemistry and physics 2012-10, Vol.136 (2-3), p.831-836
• Main Authors: Ji, Zhong-Hai, Dong, Bin, Guo, Hai-Ling, Chai, Yong-Ming, Li, Yan-Peng, Liu, Yun-Qi, Liu, Chen-Guang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical synthesis; Crystal growth; Microstructure; Oxides
• ISSN: 0254-0584; 1879-3312
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2012.05.087

Novel hollow β-MnO2 polyhedral nanorods have been successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal process. The morphology and structure of the samples obtained at different reaction time have been characterized by XRD, TEM and SEM. The results indicate that β-MnO2 nanorods prepared at reaction time 12 h have hollow, polyhedral structure and uniform size with the length of about 2–3 μm. At longer reaction time, the shells of the hollow β-MnO2 polyhedral nanorods were broken. After analyzing the above results, it's obvious that the reaction time has a great effect on the structure and morphology of the products. The morphology evolution of MnO2 products demonstrates that the growth mechanism of hollow β-MnO2 polyhedral nanorods could be assigned to the cooperation of oriented attachment and Ostwald ripening mechanism. [Display omitted] ► Hollow polyhedra of β-MnO2 were hydrothermally synthesized. ► The formation process of hollow β-MnO2 polyhedra has been investigated. ► The growth mechanism of hollow β-MnO2 polyhedra was discussed for the first time. ► Hollow β-MnO2 polyhedra form by oriented attachment and Ostwald ripening mechanism.