Solution-based chemical synthesis of boehmite nanofibers and alumina nanorods

    Authors

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

    Comments

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    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

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