Hierarchical Tubes Research Articles

Synthesis and characterization of branched yttrium hydroxide fluoride microcrystals with hierarchical tubular structure

Hexagonal yttrium hydroxide fluoride microcrystals were prepared by a two-step hydrothermal route using yttrium nitrate, sodium hydroxide and sodium fluoride as raw materials to react in propanetriol solvent. The samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrum (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetre and differential-thermogravimetric analysis (TG-DTA), which revealed that Y(OH)2.14F0.86 microcrystals were multi-branched and that the branches of Y(OH)2.14F0.86 microcrystals were composed of hierarchical tubes. This novel multi-branched and intriguing hierarchical tubular structure of yttrium hydroxide fluoride maybe has a potential application in photoelectric crystals. The formation of branched Y(OH)2.14F0.86 microcrystals with hierarchical tubular structure were due to the substitution reaction and Oswald ripening.

Self-sacrificed template method for the synthesis of ZnO-tubular nanostructures:reaction kinetics and pathways

Using Zn nanowires as a self-sacrificed template, hierarchical tubes constructed by zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoflakes and ZnO nanotubes have been successfully fabricated by two different thermal-oxidation modes. The products were characterized by the X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The experimental results show that the formation processes of ZnO nanostructures are sensitive to the growth temperature, which is lower or higher the melting point of Zn (419 °C). ZnO nanoflake tubes and ZnO nanotubes can be controlled through the variation of the heat-treatment process of Zn nanowires and their growth pathway can be described by two types of growth mechanism, in terms of Kirkendall effect and the sublimation of the Zn cores, respectively. Our method provides an easy and convenient way to prepare metal oxides tubular nanostructures with different morphologies through self-sacrificed template method via adjusting the heat-treatment process.