The First Fluoride One-Dimensional Nanostructures: Microemulsion-Mediated Hydrothermal Synthesis of BaF2 Whiskers

A convenient microemulsion-mediated hydrothermal process was employed for the first synthesis of BaF2 whiskers with lengths up to 50 mum and aspects ratios as high as 1000, each of which is a single crystal with a growth direction of (111). A directed aggregation growth process mediated by the microemulsion droplet building blocks is proposed for the formation of BaF2 whiskers.