Synthesis of vanadium oxide nanoparticles and characterization by TEM

We have synthesized vanadium oxide nanoparticles by thermal decomposition of vanadylacetylacetonate (VO(acac)2) on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite substrate under Ar/H2 atmosphere. Particles were analyzed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Chemical composition of the particles was confirmed by TEM energy dispersive x-ray analy sis (EDX). Our analysis shows that the degree of crystallinity as well as the morphology depends on the reaction parameters, e.g. temperature and concentration. For low concentrations of VO(acac)2 the particle size varies between 9 and 17 nm. With increasing concentration of VO(acac)2 the particle size increases and particle size distribution broadens. Particles with cubic section exhibit lattice spacing in agreement with V2O3. In addition, for high concentration samples, rod-like particles are found, which show a different crystalline vanadium oxide phase.