Tuning the architecture of MgO nanostructures by chemical vapour transport and condensation

In this paper, we demonstrate the potential of chemical vapour transport and condensation in tuning the architecture of a series of MgO nanostructures through adjusting experimental parameters. Different oxygen partial pressures lead to corresponding well-faceted nanostructures, such as nanowires, cubes, orthogonally branched structures and 'nanotrees', while nanotubes and 'nanoflowers' were formed through multi-step processes under modified experimental details. The synthesis roadmap may promote the in-depth understanding of the growth kinetics of nanostructures in vapour routes, and these intriguing nano-architectures may find various applications in nanotechnology.