Simple and Efficient Approach for the Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Boehmite via Hydrothermal Assisted Sol-gel Processing

Abstract

Boehmite (AlOOH) nanoparticle have been prepared from aluminum 2-butoxide by hydrothermal assisted sol-gel processing. The development of boehmite phase at various temperatures has been investigated by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared. X-ray diffraction of boehmite prepared at 50 °C poorly crystallized and pseudoboehmite develops at 100 °C and well crystallized boehmite forms at 200 °C. The intensities of O-H stretching vibrations in infrared spectra and corresponding bending vibrations, boehmite characteristic peaks, increased with increasing hydrothermal treatment temperature. Thermal analysis showed that the intensity of endothermic peak at 450-500 °C in the DSC curves depends on degree of crystallization of boehmite. The BET specific surface area decreased with increasing hydrothermal treatment temperature and transmission electron microscopy showed plate-like morphology for the boehmite processed at 150 °C and fibrils for the one processed at 100 °C.