Selective synthesis and characterization of single-crystal silver molybdate/tungstate nanowires by a hydrothermal process

Selective synthesis of uniform single crystalline silver molybdate/tungstate nanorods/nanowires in large scale can be easily realized by a facile hydrothermal recrystallization technique. The synthesis is strongly dependent on the pH conditions, temperature, and reaction time. The phase transformation was examined in details. Pure Ag2MoO4 and Ag6Mo10O33 can be easily obtained under neutral condition and pH 2, respectively, whereas other mixed phases of Mo17O47, Ag2Mo2O7, Ag6Mo10O33 were observed under different pH conditions. Ag6Mo10O33 nanowires with uniform diameter 5060 nm and length up to several hundred micrometers were synthesized in large scale for the first time at 140degreesC. The melting point of Ag6Mo10O33 nanowires were found to be about 238degreesC. Similarly, Ag2WO4, and Ag2W2O7 nanorods/nanowires can be selectively synthesized by controlling pH value. The results demonstrated that this route could be a potential mild way to selectively synthesize various molybdate nanowires with various phases in large scale.