Title

Solution-based chemical synthesis of boehmite nanofibers and alumina nanorods

Authors

Authors

S. C. Kuiry; E. Megen; S. A. Patil; S. A. Deshpande;S. Seal

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Phys. Chem. B

Keywords

CARBON NANOTUBES; GAMMA-ALUMINA; CHEMISTRY; GELS; Chemistry, Physical

Abstract

This article reports an easy chemical method of synthesizing boehmite nanofibers by a modified sol-gel process involving aluminum isopropoxide precursor. Nanorods of gamma-alumina have been successfully prepared after dehydration of the viscous sol at 600 degreesC for 4 h in air. The boehmite nanofibers and gamma-alumina nanorods were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for surface chemistry and functional groups, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy with selected area electron diffraction, and energy-dispersed spectroscopy for morphology and structure identification. The length of the boehmite nanofibers was found to be more than 10 mum with a crystalline lattice structure. The mechanism of formation of the boehmite nanofibers included the preferential growth along the longitudinal axis due to interaction between the solvent molecules and the surface OH-groups of hydrogen bonds. It is also suggested that the boehmite nanofibers may have formed due to the inherent instability of the planar structure of the boehmite lattice. The diameter of the gamma-alumina nanorods was found to be less than 10 nm with a varying length in the range of 50-200 nm. Boehmite to gamma-Al2O3 transformation was attributed to the loss of water molecules by internal condensation of protons and hydroxyl ions.

Journal Title

Journal of Physical Chemistry B

Volume

109

Issue/Number

9

Publication Date

1-1-2005

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

3868

Last Page

3872

WOS Identifier

WOS:000227479400028

ISSN

1520-6106

Share

COinS