Simple carbothermal reduction route for Sb2O3 submicron rods

A simple and facile carbothermal reduction route for Sb₂O₃ submicron rods with high uniformity was reported in this Letter. The as-prepared samples were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, the reaction process and possible growth mechanism of the obtained products were discussed. The room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) measurement exhibited two violet emission peaks which could be attributed to an oxygen vacancies-related defect. Also, red shift and intensity increase were observed when the excitation wavelength changed from 325 into 365 nm. The extremely significant absolute intensity of PL spectra suggested that luminescence properties had a very close relationship with the considerable number of oxygen vacancies-related defect in the structure.