Controllable synthesis of novel zinc molybdate rod-like nanostructures via simple surfactant-free precipitation route

Zinc molybdate rod-like nanostructures have been successfully synthesized by precipitation method process and using a solid organometallic molecular precursor [bis(salicylaldehydato)zinc(II)], Zn(sal)(2), and (NH4)(6)Mo7O24 center dot 4H(2)O as starting materials. Some parameters including time effect, temperature effect, and surfactant effect were investigated to reach the optimum conditions. The as synthesized nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmittance electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra. Facile preparation and separation are important features of this route. This work has provided a general, simple, and effective method to control the composition and morphology of zinc molybdate in aqueous solution, which will be important for inorganic synthesis methodology. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.