Search

Phase pure, mesoporous, and crystalline V2O5 is synthesized by acid hydrolysis technique and subsequently heat treatment is carried out at 450, 500, 550, and 600 °C in air. The as-synthesized and heat-treated powders are thoroughly studied by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and spectroscopic techniques. A unique morphological tuning of V2O5 powders from as small as ~80 nm tiny nanorod to as large as a ~2.5 μm hexagonal grain as microstructural unit blocks is observed. A qualitative mechanism is suggested for particle growth. Further, the powders are pelletized and subsequently sintered in air at the same temperatures of 450, 500, 550, and 600 °C at which the powders were heat treated. Finally, nanomechanical properties of bulk pelletized V2O5 such as nanohardness and Young’s modulus are also evaluated by nanoindentation technique at nine different loads e.g., 10, 30, 50, 70, 100, 300, 500, 700, and 1000 mN. Phase pure, mesoporous, and crystalline V2O5 powder synthesized by acid hydrolysis.V2O5 powders thoroughly studied as a function of various heat treatment temperatures.Morphology tuned from nanorod to hexagonal micron sized grain.Qualitative model suggested for particle growth mechanism.Load-dependent nanoindentation studied on various sintered V2O5 pellets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]