Studies on the synthesis of CdCO3 nanowires and porous CdO powder

In the present study, we demonstrate the self transformation of aqueous cadmium acetate into CdCO3 nanowires through hydrothermal reaction. The reaction temperature and the volume ratio of water to ethanol were found to be crucial for the formation of CdCO3 nanowires. The nanowires are of single crystal in nature having width similar to 17-30 nm as observed from selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) results. The major weight loss found in thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) corresponds to the formation of CdO and CO2. The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns of CdCO3 and CdO are respectively indexed to pure rhombohedral and cubic phases. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of CdO exhibits an emission peak at 483 nm due to the transition between the valence and conduction bands. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.