Magnetic-field-assisted solvothermal growth of single-crystalline bismuth nanowires

The magnetic-field-assisted approach has been used in the shape-controlled synthesis of single Bi nanocrystals. By tuning the magnetic field strength in the solvothermal process, Bi nanowires with dimension of 40-200 nm and lengths up to tens of micrometers were synthesized. Various techniques such as x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry have been used to characterize the products obtained. The results show that the magnetic field plays a key role in the crystal growth of the Bi nanowires. All nanowires were highly oriented single crystals with the growth direction along the c-axis.