Synthesis of Antimony Trioxide Crystals with Various Morphologies and Their UV‐Vis‐NIR Reflectance Performance

Abstract

The antimony trioxide (Sb2O3) crystals with various morphologies were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal or solvothermal method. Sb2O3 shapes including nanorods, nanosheets, nanobelts, nanowires, flower‐like, cubic‐like and common powders have also been obtained by modulating experimental conditions of hydrothermal or solvothermal synthesis, such as concentration of antimony trichloride, solvent, surfactant, solution pH and synthesis temperature. The morphologies, microstructures and crystallite phase of Sb2O3 were characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The proposed formation mechanism of different morphologies of the Sb2O3 crystals was provided in this study. The ultraviolet‐visible‐near infrared (UV‐Vis‐NIR) reflectance performance of the Sb2O3 samples with different shapes was evaluated and the relationship of morphology‐UV‐Vis‐NIR reflectance performance was established in this work.