Hydrothermal fabrication of controlled morphologies of MoO3 with CTAB: Structure and growth

The preparation of nanoscale molybdenum oxide has stimulated a great deal of interest. In current work, using hydrothermal synthesis and surfactant of Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB), we successfully synthesize MoO3 nanobelts, urchin-shaped, micro-ellipsoids and nanolaminas. As a cationic structure-directing agent, CTAB has played an important role in the process of nucleation and growth of crystals. Under different concentrations of the surfactant, the shape of CTAB micelles changes significantly, which results in the formation of different morphologies ultimately. Such a synthesis way may open up an avenue to prepare some other oxides. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.