Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. ›› 2009, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (12): 2570-2574.doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB20091128

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Synthesis, Structure and Growth Mechanism of Aluminum Borate Nanorods

CHEN Ai-Min, XU Shu-Fen, NI Zhe-Ming   

  1. College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, P. R. China
  • Received:2009-05-07 Revised:2009-07-20 Published:2009-11-27
  • Contact: NI Zhe-Ming E-mail:jchx@zjut.edu.cn

Abstract:

Aluminum borate (Al4B2O9) nanorods were synthesized by the sol-gel method using aluminum tri-sec-butoxide (ATSB) and boric acid (H3BO3) as reactants as well as glucose as the template. The length and diameter of the nanorods were controlled by adjusting the molar ratio of ATSB/H3BO3. The diameters of the nanorods were in the range of 15-45 nmand the lengths were in the range of 100-300 nm. The structures and morphologies of the synthesized samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A self-catalytic growth mechanism for these Al4B2O9 nanorods is proposed according to the characterization results. In aqueous solutions, complex network structures are formed after glucose and boric acid react. The aluminum is well dispersed in the network. The nanorods crystal growth occurs along the (100) direction during the calcination at 750 ℃.

Key words: Aluminum borate, Nanorods, Glucose, Growth mechanism