Fibrous nanorod network of bismuth oxide by chemical method

Fibrous nanorod network of monoclinic Bi2O3 was grown onto amorphous glass substrates at room temperature using a simple and soft chemical method from aqueous bismuth nitrate solution. The fibrous network of nanorods was characterized by morphological, structural, optical and electrical properties. The nanorods were nearly uniform in dimensions, with diameter around 40 nm and length ∼500 nm. The optical properties of the nanorods are studied in the UV–vis spectral range. The band gap calculated from the absorption spectrum is found to be 3.1 eV, indicating a considerable “blue shift” relative to the bulk material. The dark electrical resistivity was measured as a function of temperature, which revealed the semiconducting nature with high electrical resistivity of the order of 107 Ω cm.