Growth of vertically aligned α−MoO3 nanoflakes by using a facile PVD route

Abstract

In this report, we synthesize vertically aligned molybdenum trioxide (α−MoO3) nanoflakes (NFs) with high aspect ratio (height/thickness >15) on the cobalt coated glass substrates by the plasma assisted sublimation process, employing Mo metal strip as a sublimation source. The effect of substrate temperature, nature of substrate as well as the geometry of the sublimation source (Mo-strip) have been investigated on the morphological, structural and optical properties of the grown NFs, keeping plasma parameters as fixed. The surface morphology, crystalline structure and optical properties of MoO3 NFs have been studied systematically by using scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray diffractometer, and IR- spectroscopy. The experimental observations endorse that the characteristics of MoO3 NFs are strongly depend on substrate temperature, substrate nature as well as geometry of Mo-strip. All the observed results are well in consonance with each other.