Hydrothermal synthesis of ZrW2O8 nanorods

Negative thermal expansion ZrW2O8 nanorods were synthesized by a rapid low-temperature hydrothermal route, followed with a heat treatment at 500 degrees C for 6h. Acidity of the HCl addition to the mixed solution in the hydrothermal condition strongly affects the formation of the precursor ZrW2O7(OH)(2)(H2O)(2). High acidity of HCl in the range of 5-10 N facilitates the nucleation of ZrW2O7(OH)(2)(H2O)(2), but constrains its growth. Low acidity of HCl addition (< 5 N) only obtained the products ZrO2 and WO3 by firing the precursors. FE-SEM images revealed that the shape and size of ZrW2O8 were modeled after its precursor ZrW2O7(OH)(2)(H2O)(2).