Synthesis of monodispersed single-crystal compass-shaped Mn 3O 4 via gamma-ray irradiation

Abstract

Monodispersed and uniform single-crystal compass-shaped (80 nm in middle width and 200 nm in length) Mn 3O 4 (hausmannite) have been successfully prepared in a surfactant solution system by a simple reduction–oxidation method at room temperature and under ambient pressure. The reactions contain two steps: first, Mn 2+ is reduced into Mn atoms by γ-ray irradiation; then, Mn atoms are oxidized into Mn 3O 4 in air. The possible growth mechanism has also been proposed.