Effect of precursor morphology on the hydrothermal synthesis of nanostructured potassium tungsten oxide

► Nanowires/nanorods can be simply prepared by selecting suitable precursor. ► Uniform nanowires were synthesized from very fine, amorphous-like precursor. ► Non-uniform nanorods were synthesized from agglomerated, well-crystalline precursor. ► Different crystallization is ascribed to different dissolution of the two precursors.