Synthesis and characterization of single-crystalline nanorods of α-MnO2 and γ-MnOOH

Single-crystalline α-MnO2 nanorods have been prepared by reducing KMnO4 with graphite in concentrated H2SO4 solution at 0 °C. Hydrothermal treatment of the α-MnO2 nanorods at 100 °C results in the formation of single-phase γ-MnOOH nanorods. The structure and morphology of the α-MnO2 and γ-MnOOH are characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively.