In situ X-ray diffraction study of the hydrothermal crystallization of hierarchical Bi2WO6 nanostructures

The hydrothermal crystallization of hierarchical Bi2WO6 nanostructures has been monitored with in situ energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXRD). The kinetic data analysis according to the Avrami-Erofe'ev model suggests that the formation of nanostructured Bi2WO6 is diffusion controlled with Avrami exponents around 0.5 and that the growth mechanism is temperature independent in the interval from 150 to 180 degrees C. Furthermore, the reaction kinetics and the crystal structure of the resulting hydrothermal products depend on the pH value of the Bi(NO3)(3)center dot 5H(2)O/K2WO4 hydrothermal system.