Synthesis and characterization of self-assembling (NH4)0.5V2O5 nanowires

Large-scale long (NH4)0.5V2O5 nanowires have been synthesized by rational hydrothermal treatment of ammonium metavanadate at 170 °C. Scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope analyses show that the nanowires have diameters of about 20–80 nm, and lengths up to 0.5 mm. Some self-assembled nanobelts are observed with a thickness of 18 nm and width of 100–200 nm. Electrical transport measurements shows that the nanowires are semiconductors with a conductivity of about 10−3 S cm−1 at room temperature. The conduction mechanism can be explained by small polaron hopping in transition metal oxides.