Controlled preparation and self-assembly of NdVO4 nanocrystals

Phase-pure t-NdVOnanocrystals with different shapes have been synthesized by facile and repeatable hydrothermal methods. The as-synthesized t-NdVOnanoparticles were characterized by various techniques of X-ray diffraction(XRD). scanning electron microscope(SEM) and transmission electron microscope(TEM). The growth process and assembly behavior of t-NdVOnanorod arrays were investigated. The results show that the morphology of t-NdV04 nanocrystals is greatly related to the pH value of precursor solution and that strong basic solution is not in favor of the formation of t-NdVOnanoparticles. Due to the strong adhesive action and stabilization of OH~-ions to some crystal faces of NdVO, neodymium vanadate crystallite grows into oriented short nanorods and then into nanorod arrays. The shape, crystalline and dimension of NdVOnanocrystals can be effectively governed in our work.