Transformation of hydrothermally derived nanowire cluster intermediates into CdSiO3 nanobelts

Abstract

In this communication, we demonstrate that cadmium metasilicate nanobelts could be fabricated via a facile, eco-friendly, low cost hydrothermal treatment in the absence of surfactants and organic additives, followed by calcination. The monoclinic phase formation of the sample is described in detail by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) studies. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements of as-formed samples and samples calcined at 600 °C for 3 h indicate that the as-formed CdSiO₃ sample consists of entangled nano-wire bundles with diameters ranging from 20 to 80 nm and lengths in the order of several micrometers. The calcined sample consists of nanobelts of slightly increased diameter and increased length compared to the as-formed samples. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images reflect the polycrystalline nature of nanobelts. The probable mechanism for the formation of nanobelts is also discussed.