Phase- and shape-controlled synthesis of cadmium hydroxyl chloride microstructures via an ammonia-assisted conversion of 1D CdQCl (Q=quinoline) complex microwires

Abstract

In this paper we reported a NH3·H2O-assisted solvothermal route for successful synthesis of cadmium hydroxyl chlorides (Cdx(OH)yClz) microstructures with different phases and shapes, employing 1D CdQCl (Q=quinoline) complex microwires as the precursor. Experiments contained two processes: firstly, CdQCl complex microwires with 500–600nm in diameter and several hundreds of micrometers in length were prepared by the complexation between CdCl2·2.5H2O and quinoline at room temperature; then, CdQCl microwires were solvothermally treated at 150°C for 10h in the presences of different amounts of NH3·H2O to produce Cdx(OH)yClz microstructures with various phases and shapes. The as-obtained precursor and Cdx(OH)yClz microstructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Infrared spectrometry and X-ray powder diffraction. Experiments showed that hexagonal Cd(OH)Cl was obtained from water–methanol system, while rhombohedral Cd4(OH)5Cl3 from methanol system. Also, it was found that the shapes of Cdx(OH)yClz could be tuned by the amounts of NH3·H2O. Furthermore, the UV diffuse reflection and photoluminescence spectra of the precursor and Cdx(OH)yClz were also investigated.