Coordinatively induced length control and photoluminescence of W18O49 nanorods

Coordinatively induced length control of W18O49 nanorods are developed using thermal decomposition of W(CO)(sub 6) in octyl ether solutions of single or mixed capping agents, oleic acid (OA), oleic acid/hexadecylamine (HDA), and oleic acid/trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO). The strong coordinating power and steric bulkiness of TOPO interrupts the growth of the nanorods, the rearrangement of the end face atoms, and the fusion of the lateral faces, which thereby increases the oxygen defects and the photoluminescence intensity.