MgO nanostructured microspheres synthesized by an interfacial reaction in a solid-stabilized emulsion

Abstract

Nanostructured MgO microspheres were prepared by a novel solid-stabilized emulsion for the first time. SEM, XRD, size analysis and BET measurement were used to characterize the MgO microspheres. The diameter of the MgO microspheres was in a range of 5.1 to 5.4 μm. The surfaces of the MgO microspheres were made of leaf-like nanostructures with a leaf thickness of 65 nm. The XRD analysis indicated that the MgO nanostructured microspheres were of cubic lattice. The specific surface area of the MgO nanostructured microspheres was about 105.8 m 2/g. The MgO microspheres with nanostructured surfaces had a larger specific surface area than the MgO polyhedral particles prepared by the comparing experiment (via a conventional homogeneous precipitation route). An interfacial reaction mechanism for the formation of the MgO microspheres with nanostructured surfaces was proposed.