Facile Preparation of Mn2O3 Nanowires by Thermal Decomposition of MnCO3

Mn2O3 nanowires with diameters of about 130 nm and lengths up to tens of micrometers were synthesized by the thermal decomposition of MnCO3 precursors. It was identified that the growth of the cubic Mn2O3 nanowires was preferential along the 1:001:1 direction. The intermediate stage containing melting stale and the particles of manganese oxide played an important role for the formation of Mn2O3 with one-dimensional structure. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology and crystal structure of the precursors and final products. Thermogravimetry analysis was also carried out to find the mechanism for the formation of Mn2O3 nanowires. The growth of the nanowires was proposed to be dominated by the conventional melt-growth mechanism.