Preparation and Growth Mechanism of Molybdenum Trioxide Whisker

A new whisker, α‐MoO 3 , was fabricated via molybdenum thread oxidation at 973, 1023, and 1173 K. Various morphologies of the whiskers, such as flakelike, platelike, and needlelike, were observed under different fabrication conditions. The lateral surfaces of the whiskers were close‐packed (010) plane, and the growth direction was (001), which related to the unique layered structure of the α‐MoO 3 crystal. Growth of the MoO 3 whiskers was attributed to a vapor‐liquid‐solid (VLS) mechanism at 1023 and 1173 K, whereas, at 973 K, growth was attributed to a vapor‐liquid (VL) mechanism.