Large-scale synthesis of single-crystal molybdenum trioxide nanobelts by hot-wire chemical vapour deposition

Abstract

Bulk quantities of molybdenum trioxide (α-MoO3) nanobelts were synthesized via hot wire chemical vapor deposition on the surface of the MoSi2 rod electric heater at 600°C under air atmosphere. The MoO3 nanobelts grown on each MoSi2 rod were up to 20g in weight. The possible vapor–solid growth mechanism was discussed. Before the growth of MoO3 nanobelts, SiO2 protective layers of MoSi2 rod electric heater were deoxidized by the carbothermal reduction reaction, and Mo2C was formed on the surface of the MoSi2 rods. When Mo2C was oxidized under air atmosphere, MoO vapor was deposited on the hot MoSi2 rod surface to form yellow MoO3 nanobelts. The hot wire chemical vapor deposition technique is desirable for the large-scale production of MoO3 nanomaterials.