Cd2Ge2O6 nanowires grown by a simple hydrothermal route

Cd2Ge2O6 nanowires have been synthesized by a simple hydrothermal route in the absence of any surfactants. The diameter and length of the Cd2Ge2O6 nanowires with flat tips are 30-300 nm and several dozens of micrometers, respectivley. X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy results show that the nanowires are composed of monoclinic Cd2Ge2O6 phase. The growth condition dependence results show that the formation of the Cd2Ge2O6 nanowires undergoes three morphological changes from spherical particles to nanorods, and finally to nanowires. The photoluminescence spectrum of the Cd2Ge2O6 nanowires exhibits three fluorescence emission peaks centered at 422 nm, 490 nm and 528 nm showing the potential application for optical devices. (C) 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim