Meso/macroporous γ-Al2O3 fabricated by thermal decomposition of nanorods ammonium aluminium carbonate hydroxide

Through exploring the reaction parameters during the synthesis of the AACH, rod-like ammonium aluminium carbonate hydroxide (AACH) with high crystallinity has been successfully prepared via a facile hydrothermal method. The synthesis parameters like time, the molar ratio of NH4HCO3/Al and the properties of starting materials were systematically investigated. The structure was characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), IR and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The experimental results display that the obtained γ-Al2O3 materials possess meso/macroporosity and large pore volume, which are mainly attributed to the removal of gas molecules during the decomposition of AACH. Moreover, using the rod-like AACH as precursor, γ-Al2O3 nanorods were obtained via a low-temperature thermal decomposition method.

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► Rod-like AACH were synthesized by a hydrothermal treatment.
► AACH was formed via a Al(OH)3 → (NH4)2Al6(CO3)3(OH)14·xH2O → NH4Al(OH)2CO3·H2O → NH4Al(OH)2CO3 path.
► Alumina derived from AACH has a good thermal stability.
► The obtained alumina possesses large pore volume and bimodal porosity.