Controlled synthesis and formation mechanism of monodispersive lanthanum vanadate nanowires with monoclinic structure

Monodisperse LaVO4 nanowires with relatively high aspect ratio larger than 50 have been prepared by a one-step solvothermal synthesis. This method provides a simple, inexpensive, controllable and reproducible process to produce LaVO4 nanowires with an average diameter of 15 nm and a high aspect ratio. The as-synthesized products have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fast Fourier transform spectroscopy (FFT), indicative of a well-crystalline monoclinic structure and ascendant nanowire-morphology. The formation mechanism is suggested that oriented attachment plays a vital role in the growth of LaVO4 nanowires, which recommends a favorable route to fabricate similar morphological and structural nanometer materials.

Graphical abstractThe formation of LaVO4 nanowires is attributed to oriented attachment, a combination of nanocrystallites through their suitable surface planes, that is, with the same crystallographic orientations of [−120].Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Monodisperse LaVO4 nanowires with high aspect ratio have been prepared solvothermally without any templates. ► The morphology and structure of LaVO4 nanowires were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM techniques. ► The formation mechanism of LaVO4 nanowires is suggested that oriented attachment plays a vital role.