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Template‐Free Hydrothermal Synthesis of Mesoporous MgO Nanostructures and Their Applications in Water Treatment
Author(s) -
Lian Jiabiao,
Zhang Caihong,
Wang Ping,
Ng Dickon H. L.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
chemistry – an asian journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.18
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1861-471X
pISSN - 1861-4728
DOI - 10.1002/asia.201200665
Subject(s) - mesoporous material , nanowire , materials science , nanostructure , chemical engineering , methyl orange , hydrothermal circulation , hydrothermal synthesis , thermal treatment , annealing (glass) , thermal decomposition , nanotechnology , porosity , organic chemistry , catalysis , chemistry , photocatalysis , composite material , engineering
The controlled synthesis of Mg(OH) 2 nanowires and microflowers composed of nanoplates was successfully achieved by a template‐free hydrothermal synthetic method. It was found that the reaction medium played a crucial role in the morphological control of the precursor nanostructures. The high polarity of water molecules favored the polar growth of the precursor, resulting in the formation of nanowires with a diameter of 80 nm, whereas a mixed water/ethanol medium with a lower degree of polarity led to the formation of microflowers. Moreover, mesoporous MgO nanostructures could be obtained by further annealing these as‐prepared precursors in air at 500 °C for 2 h. During thermal treatment , the wire‐ and flower‐like morphologies were retained. Porosity formation was due to thermal decomposition of Mg(OH) 2 and release of H 2 O. Both the mesoporous MgO nanowires and microflowers showed superior ability of adsorbing the organic dye methyl orange, and thus they are promising candidates for polluted water treatment.