Simple Template-Free Synthesis of Bi2O3 Microflowers Composed of Nanorods

This paper reports that α-Bi2O3 microflowers can be synthesized by an extremely simple and easy approach of inducing a reaction through the addition of NaOH aqueous solution to a mixed aqueous solution of Bi(NO3)3·5H2O and HNO3 scanning electron microscopy images of the Bi2O3 microflowers indicate that the Bi2O3 nanorods grew radially from the centre of the microflower to form the microflower shape. The findings of this study show that control of the reaction temperature, reaction time, and raw material mixture ratio plays an important role in the formation of α-Bi2O3 microflowers. It is especially revealed that α-Bi2O3 microflowers can be formed at low temperatures with short reaction times. It has thus far been reported that flower-shaped Bi2O3 particles or their precursors can be synthesized by the addition of additives such as organic molecules or certain inorganic ions. The present work reports on the discovery of ways to synthesize flower-shaped Bi2O3 particles without the use of special additives.