Abstract
Antimony-trioxide (Sb
2
O
3
) nanowires were synthesized by using the hydrothermal method. The products were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scan electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The products were found to be orthorhombic, crystalline nanowires of Sb
2
O
3
with diameters of 65–85 nm and lengths up to several micrometers. Selected area electron diffraction and high-resolution TEM studies indicated the single-crystalline nature of the Sb
2
O
3
nanowires with an oriented growth along the [001] direction. The absorption spectrum of the as-prepared Sb
2
O
3
nanowires showed an absorption peak around 361 nm. These Sb
2
O
3
nanowires exhibited bright photoluminescence with a strong emission band at 395 nm. The as-synthesized Sb
2
O
3
nanowires are expected be new functional materials and to be used in the manufacture of advanced optoelectronic nanodevices.