Three-dimensional hierarchical flowerlike microstructures of α-Bi2O3 constructed of decahedrons and rods

•Two similar hierarchical flowerlike microstructures of α-Bi2O3 built up of decahedrons and rods were obtained in the presence of glycerin via solution precipitation method.•Glycerin plays crucial role in the formation of the hierarchical structure (the formation of junction) and the introduction of glycerin and adjustment of temperature and pressure could control the shape of petals (decahedrons and rods).•The PL spectra of hierarchical flowerlike microstructures of α-Bi2O3 show four emission bands centered at 442, 481, 535 and 571 nm, which can be assigned to band-edge emission, Bi3+ ions and oxygen vacancies, respectively.

Three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical flowerlike microstructures of α-Bi2O3 composed of decahedrons and rods have been synthesized using a facile solution precipitation method with the assistance of glycerin. The hierarchical microstructures have been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV–visible spectrometer and fluorescence spectrophotometer. According to experimental results, the glycerin plays crucial role in the formation of the hierarchical structure and adjustment of pressure and temperature could change shape of petals. Luminescence bands centered at 2.81, 2.58, 2.32 and 2.17 eV in photoluminescence (PL) spectra can be attributed to band-edge emission, Bi3+ ions and oxygen vacancies, respectively. Finally, the effect of morphology on band gaps and PL characteristics was analyzed.

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