For the present experiment, the solvothermal
technique is used to prepare Bi nanowires. The
whole system consists of aqueous bismuth nitrate
BiðNO3Þ3 5H2O, ethylene diamine and acetone.
Two grams analytically pure aqueous bismuth nitrate
BiðNO3Þ3 5H2O and 5 ml acetone were put
into 40 ml pure ethylene diamine at room temperature
to form a mixture with insoluble precipitate.
The mixture was stirred strongly for 10 min
and transferred into a stainless steel autoclave with
inner Teflon vessel (volume, 80 ml). The autoclave
was closed tightly to perform solvothermal process
for 6 h at 160 C. After the process, the obtained
black product was washed with alcohol and distilled
water three times, respectively, dried in air at
50 C for 0.5 h. The sample was examined by XRD
using a 18KW advanced X-ray diffractometer with
Cu Ka radiation (k ¼ 1:54056 AA). The nanostructure
of as-prepared products was studied by TEM
at an accelerating voltage of 200 kV.