Ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of β-MnO2 with hollow polyhedra morphology

β-MnO2 with hollow polyhedra morphology has been successfully synthesized via an ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal synthetic method, and the effect of the ionic liquid N-butylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate on the formation of β-MnO2 with hollow polyhedra morphology has been investigated on the basis of the hydrothermal treatment temperature, the concentration of the ionic liquid, and the concentration of HCl. A formation process of β-MnO2 with hollow polyhedra morphology is given. The ionic liquid acts as a soft template in the formation of β-MnO2 with hollow polyhedra morphology, which decreases the particle surface energy and controls the growth direction of β-MnO2 polyhedra.

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► β-MnO2 hollow structure with regular size and morphology.
► An ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal synthetic method.
► A formation process of β-MnO2 with hollow polyhedra morphology.
► Hollow polyhedra morphology is ascribed to the soft template of the ionic liquid and an acidic etching function.