Room-temperature synthesis of MnMoO4·H2O nanorods by the microemulsion-based method and its photocatalytic performance

Manganese molybdate hydrates (MnMoO4·H2O) nanorods have been synthesized at room temperature by a facile water-in-oil reverse microemulsion method. This technique was carried out in the reverse microemulsion of OP-10 (Polyoxyethylene octylphenol ether)-n-octanol-water-cyclohexane with a water/surfactant molar ratio ω = 10. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that the diameters of these formed nanorods about 70 nm and lengthe up to 4 μm, respectively. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) results showed that each nanorod was formed by serveral nanobelts which are stacked by a layer-by-layer process. These unique nanorods demonstrate good photocatalytic properties.