Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of Bi2O3 nanowires

An alternative two-step method has been proposed for the synthesis of Bi2O3 nanowires with a diameter of about 40 nm from common and cost effective Bi(NO3)(3).5H(2)O, Na2SO4, and NaOH. That is, first, Bi2O(OH)SO4 nanowires were prepared through the precipitation reaction of Bi(NO3)(3).5H(2)O and Na2SO4 in distilled water under the ambient condition and second, monoclinic phase Bi2O3 nanowires were prepared via the hydrothermal reaction of Bi2O(OH)SO4 and NaOH at 120 degrees C for 12 h. The resultant products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the photocatalytic studies indicated that the as-synthesized nanowires were a kind of promising photocatalyst in remediation of water polluted by some chemically stable azo dyes. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.