Synthesis of well crystallized rod-shaped V
2O
4•2H
2O powders of 100 nm in width in an aqueous solution containing NH
4VO
3 and N
2H
4•H
2O under atmospheric pressure had been investigated. The optimal conditions for atmospherically hot-water treatment at 95°C were found to be as follows: pH 2.5-3.5 and an appropriate amount of N
2H
4•H
2O. How the solution conditions affect the crystal structures and morphologies of the products is discussed. At pH<2.5, no precipitates formed. At pH 4.0-4.5, V
10O
24•12H
2O would generally be obtained if N
2H
4•H
2O was excessive. It was independent of reduction of NH
4VO
3 solution to tetravalent solids on the dosage of reducing agent N
2H
4•H
2O. The morphologies of the V
2O
4•2H
2O had no obvious relationship with the pH and the dosage of N
2H
4•H
2O. It seems that before treated at 95°C the products were sheet-shaped, and then cleaved along specific crystalline directions after treated, forming rod bunches. The stability of V
2O
4•2H
2O in acid solution and in air was also investigated. The results showed that V
2O
4•2H
2O was unstable in air and could undergo oxidization to be a quasi-amorphous rod-shaped V
10O
24•12H
2O, especially at high pH, with excessive N
2H
4•H
2O, drying at 150°C in flowing air, and/or being exposed to air for several days.
View full abstract