Controlled-surfactant-directed solvothermal synthesis of γ-Al2O3 nanorods through a boehmite precursor route

Abstract

Ceramic one-dimensional particles are fascinating nanomaterials for sustainable future industries. Nanorods of γ-Al2O3 with single crystallinity and 10 nm diameter regime were newly developed through solvothermal procedure between AlCl3·6H2O, NaOH, and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate at 200 °C for 24 h. Controlling the pH values, reaction time, temperature, and effect of surfactant during the solvothermal reaction was studied to control the morphology and structure of nanorods. The solvothermal procedure for preparing γ-AlOOH nanorods followed lamellar growth, assembly, and ripening routes. The γ-AlOOH nanorods were converted to γ-Al2O3 through calcination reaction at 500 °C for 3 h. The produced γ-Al2O3 nanorods were 10 nm average width, 100–200 nm average length, and exposed with [101] orientation and a linear structure. FTIR, HRTEM, FESEM, XRD, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy methods were used for characterizing the prepared nanomaterials. New features and applied fields are predictable for the designed γ-AlOOH and γ-Al2O3 nanorods.