A rational self-sacrificing template route to β-Bi2O3 nanotube arrays

Arrayed beta-Bi2O3 nanotubes (NTs) were synthesized for the first time through a rational self-sacrificing template route, simply by oxidizing the precursor metallic bismuth NT arrays in air at 200-220 degreesC for 14-18 h. XRD, TEM, and HRTEM characterizations show that the prepared beta-Bi2O3 samples are all phase pure and the beta-Bi2O3 NTs have uniform diameters of approximately 3-6 nm and lengths up to several micrometers. The optical absorption and photoluminescence (PL) characteristics of the prepared samples were investigated. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004).