Synthesis of γ-Al2O3 nano particles by different combustion modes using ammonium carbonate

Abstract

Gamma-alumina nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by different modes of combustion using ammonium carbonate as well as effective material. Thermodynamic calculations predicted the capability of ammonium carbonate as compared with some other fuels in production of nanoparticles with improved properties by combustion process. The proposed reactions involved in synthesizing process were verified by TG analysis. The synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), N₂ adsorption (BET), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Dynamic light scattering (DLS). For all modes of combustion, γ-alumina nanoparticles were obtained with crystallite size in the range 2.0-2.5 nm. But DLS and BET analyses showed that conventional volume combustion synthesis mode is advantageous over other modes, with respect to the higher specific surface area and narrower agglomerate size distribution of the products. Specific surface area for synthesized samples was found to be in the range 328.0-392.8 m².g^-1. Ammonium carbonate was found to be a suitable material for the production of alumina fine particles with high specific surface area.