Synthesis of SrCrO₄ nanostructures by onion inner-coat template and their optical properties

Abstract

This paper describes a bio-template method of the squama inner coat of onion for preparing the SrCrO₄ nanostructures including nanospheres, nanorods and dumbbell-shaped superstructure. The method is able to make SrCrO₄ nanoparticles with average diameters in the range of 90–170 nm, SrCrO₄ nanorods with length in the range 0·70–2 μm, width in the range of 80–180 nm, and SrCrO₄ dumbbell-shaped superstructure with length in the range 10–14 μm. The dumbbell-shaped superstructures are assembled by many SrCrO₄ nanowires with length in the range 10–14 μm and width in the range 30–50 nm. The products were characterized by transmission electron microscope, powder X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy and luminescence spectrophotometer. A possible formation mechanism was also proposed. In the preparation, the SrCrO₄ nanostructures were synthesized at room temperature without any surfactants. This new bio-template method will have potential applications in preparation of the nanoscale materials with different morphologies.