Preparation and optical properties of V₂O₅ nanotube arrays

Abstract

V₂ O₅ nanotube arrays in porous anodic alumina (PAA) template were obtained from V₂ O₅ sols prepared by melt quenching method. X-ray powder diffraction and selected area electron diffraction investigations demonstrate that V₂ O₅ nanotubes are orthorhombic. Results by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy results show that V₂ O₅ nanotubes with a uniform diameter form highly ordered arrays. The diameter and length of the nanotubes depend on the pore diameter and the thickness of the PAA template used. It is proved that the sol-gel template process is a cost-saving, simple and readily-controlled method to prepare metal oxides nanomaterials. Owing to the quantum size effect, the optical absorption edge of V₂ O₅ nanotubes in PAA exhibits a significant blue shift with respect to that of bulk V₂ O₅.

Keywords

V₂ O₅ / nanotube arrays / porous anodic alumina template / sol-gel / optical properties

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