Production and Properties of Nanostructured Metal Oxide Particles

Abstract

AbstractTwo fundamentally different procedures of metal oxide production, which provide nanometer‐sized oxide particles, are described here. Earthalkaline oxides, e.g., are produced by chemical gas phase deposition with MeO molecules (Me = Ca, Mg) and clusters being directly deposited after gas phase reaction between Me atomes and O2 molecules. The procedure also allows the dotation of MgO with a second component such as CaO and vice versa. In order to obtain information on surface properties like reactivity and surface composition, OH groups as probe species are produced on the surface of the resulting particles. The respective chemisorption as well as thermal desorption of OH groups are monitored by FT‐IR spectroscopy. X‐ray powder diffraction provides information on the bulk composition and bulk structure. Cu2O, on the other hand, is produced by deposition of Cu metal from the vapour and subsequent oxidation of the resulting solid particles, which are then characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction and UV/VIS spectroscopy.