Formation of α-TeO2 pearl-like microwires templated on porous microtubes through thermal oxidation of Te microtubes

The current work demonstrates the first reported successful synthesis of unique alpha-TeO2 hybrid microstructures through thermal oxidation of Te microtubes in a horizontal tube furnace at different temperatures in the range 220-470 degrees C, under oxygen flow. The obtained microstructures were carefully characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. They exhibited characteristic morphologies with porous scaffold microtubes covered along their whole length with pearl-like microwires. The possible formation mechanism of the obtained microstructures was also discussed. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.