Growth of dendritic bismuth microspheres by solution-phase process

Dandelion-shape microspheres of ordered bismuth nanowires have been synthesized starting from bismuth chloride and iron powder at 150 °C for 12 h. XRD pattern shows that the as-prepared sample is rhombohedral bismuth with lattice constants a = 4.535 Å, c = 11.80 Å. SEM and TEM show the features and growth progress of these nanowires. The impact of reducing agents and precursor BiOCl nanosheets on the final formation of the nanowires was discussed and the possible growth mechanism was also proposed.