Alumina-based nanoparticles obtained by anodic dissolution of Al in electrolytes with alcohol solvents

M Starowicz ,P Starowicz ,B Stypuła

doi:10.1007/s10008-014-2447-6

M Starowicz , P Starowicz + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-014-2447-6

Copy DOI

Abstract

In the present work, alumina-based nanoparticles were produced by an electrochemical method. Alcohols (methanol, ethanol, and propanol) containing 5 % of water and LiCl were applied as electrolytes. Sizes of the micelles in the obtained solution ranged from 200 nm to over 1 μm depending on the used alcohol. Measurements performed by ultraviolet and visible light (UV-VIS) spectroscopy indicated a presence of aluminum oxides and hydroxides in the solution. Studies using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the obtained nanoparticles are in a form of flakes and membranes and their size is ~200 nm for methanol and ~50 nm for propanol. The composition of the product was characterized by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). It consists of amorphous Al oxides and hydroxides as well as poorly crystallized aluminates and metallic Al.

Highlights

Nanoparticles of aluminum compounds are of particular importance due to their properties, which are different from those of a bulk material
The main criterion for choosing the potential was a similar efficiency of the nanoparticle synthesis, what was reflected by the same current densities of 3 mA/cm2
Structure, and properties of the colloidal solution containing nanoparticles were investigated by means of ultraviolet and visible light spectroscopy (UV-VIS) with Lambda 25 PerkinElmer instrument, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with Thermo Scientific Nicolet 6700 spectroscope and a Zetasizer Nano ZS nanosizer from Malvern company

Summary

Introduction

Nanoparticles of aluminum compounds are of particular importance due to their properties, which are different from those of a bulk material. AlOOH nanoparticles have absorptive properties and because of this are applied in nanocomposites. The biochar/AlOOH nanocomposite can be used as a multifunctional and highly effective adsorbent to remove aqueous contaminates, such as organic and inorganic pollutants from wastewater [3]. The lamellar γ-AlOOH architectures may be applied as potential adsorbents for HCN in toxic pollutant solutions and cigarette smoke [4]. The example is AlOOH boehmite in a form of nanorods, which is used as filler for sol–gel and polymerbased composite coatings, which improves the fracture toughness [5]. Al2O3 and LiAlO2 nanoparticles are used to cover a cathode in lithium ion batteries in order to improve cathodic electrochemical properties [7]. The Al2O3 nanoparticles play the role of a solid plasticizer for a polymer matrix, which ameliorates the properties of the lithium ion batteries [8]

Objectives

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion