OICC Press International Nano Letters 2228-5326 3 1 (December 2013) 2013 05 24 Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of straw bundle-like lithium sodium disilicate (silinaite) micro-rods 10.1186/2228-5326-3-38 EN Abdolali Alemi Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, IR Sang Woo Joo School of Mechanical Engineering WCU Nano Research Center, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 712-749, KR Shahin Khademinia Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, IR Mahboubeh Dolatyari Laboratory of Photonics and Nano Crystals, School of Engineering-Emerging Technologies, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, IR Akbar Bakhtiari Department of Chemistry, Payame Noor University, Tehran, 19395-4697, IR Hossein Moradi Faculty of Chemistry, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, IR Sorayya Saeidi Faculty of Science of Nature, Department of Geology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, IR Journal Article 2013 05 24 Abstract Highly mono-shaped straw bundle-like silinaite micro-rods have been synthesized using an aqueous mixture of silicic acid, lithium sulfate, and sodium hydroxide under hydrothermal conditions at 180°C. The synthesized materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction technique and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The morphologies of the synthesized materials were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy technique. The synthesized micro-rods are composed of long, fine nanosheets. Electronic absorption and photoluminescence spectra of the synthesized materials were also studied. With increasing reaction time, a blueshift was observed in the UV–vis electronic absorption and emission spectra of the synthesized materials.