Lead oxide nanobelts and phase transformation induced by electron beam irradiation

β- PbO 2 nanobelts, with a rectangular cross section, a typical length of 10–200 μm, a width of 50–300 nm, and a width-to-thickness ratio of 5–10, have been successfully synthesized by simple elevated evaporation of commercial PbO powders at high temperature. The PbO2 nanobelts are enclosed by top surfaces ±(201) and side surfaces ±(101̄) and their growth direction is [010]. Each PbO2 nanobelt is found to have a large polyhedral Pb tip at one of its ends, suggesting the growth is dominated by a vapor–liquid–solid mechanism. Electron beam irradiation of the PbO2 nanobelts results in the phase transformation from PbO2 to PbO and finally to Pb.