Controlled synthesis and characterization of 10 nm thick Al2O3 nanowires

alpha-Al2O3 nanowires, with diameter around 10 nm, were synthesized in bulk quantity by heating the mixture of pure aluminum and graphite powders at 900 degrees C. Scarcity of oxygen is regarded as the reason for the growth of the small diameter alpha-Al2O3 nanowires at relatively low temperature. The product was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence. The Oxygen vacancies in the nanowires lead to the strong photoluminescence in the wavelength range of 400-700 nm with its peak at 527 nm. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.