Preparation of aluminum hydroxide and oxide nanostructures with controllable morphology by wet oxidation of AlN/A1 nanoparticles

A simple and environmentally friendly method to prepare aluminum oxyhydroxide and trihydroxide anostructures by wet oxidation of A1l/A1lcomposite nanoparticles was developed. The A1N/A1 nanoparticles used were produced by electrical explosion of an aluminum wire in nitrogen atmosphere. The obtained nanostructures were characterized employing X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (TEM and HRSEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and NN( )adsorption-desorption technique (BET). By changing the wet oxidation conditions, aluminum hydroxides with different phase composition, morphology and texture characteristics were synthesized. After calcination at different temperatures, a range of transition and stable alumina nanostructures were obtained that preserved the morphology of the aluminum hydroxide precursors - agglomerated nanosheets, nanoplates or hexagonal nanorods, up to 1000 degrees degrees. Optimal process parameters for maximum surface area development for all the precursor materials have been established.