Ultrasound-assisted synthesis of magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles from magnesium

• Magnesium hydroxide is formed from pure magnesium using acoustic cavitation.
• This approach does not require any additives and non-aqueous solvents.
• Platelet-like nanosized brucite is obtained by variation of sonochemical parameters.

Acoustic cavitation in water provides special kinetic and thermodynamic conditions for chemical synthesis and nanostructuring of solids. Using cavitation phenomenon, we obtained magnesium hydroxide from pure magnesium. This approach allows magnesium hydroxide to be synthesized without the requirement of any additives and non-aqueous solvents. Variation of sonochemical parameters enabled a total transformation of the metal to nanosized brucite with distinct morphology. Special attention is given to the obtaining of platelet-shaped, nanometric and de-agglomerated powders. The products of the synthesis were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction (ED), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).