Synthesis of crystalline SrMoO4 nanowires from polyoxometalates

Crystalline SrMoO₄ nanowires were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal process at 180 °C for 10 h. α-(NH₄)₆-P₂Mo₁₈O₆₂·nH₂O, one of polyoxometalates with Dawson structure, was employed as the source of molybdates. The diameter and length of the obtained SrMoO₄ nanowires are about 20 nm and 5-10 μm, respectively. HRTEM results show that the SrMoO₄ nanowires are of high crystallinity with rough surface. However, when Na₂MoO₄·2H₂O was used, there are only SrMoO₄ nanorods with smaller aspect ratio (200/70 nm) in the similar hydrothermal process. The probable growth mechanism was discussed.