Synthesis and characterization of germanium oxide nanowires

Germanium oxide (GeO2) nanowires have been prepared by heating a mixture of Ge powder and carbon in an Ar + O2 mixture at 900 degrees C. The nanowires have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and spectroscopic measurements. The nanowires are single crystalline with diameters in the 15-250-nm range. They exhibit characteristic blue luminescence.