Preparation of flower-like and rod-like boehmite via a hydrothermal route in a buffer solution

Flower-like and rod-like boehmite has been synthesized using a hydrothermal route in a buffer solution. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The SEM and the TEM images of products obtained after different processing times reveal that the buffer solution plays an important role in the rod-like boehmite formation. This approach may allow us to have a better control of the size and morphology of the crystalline boehmite. And the surface area of boehmite hollow microspheres was calculated using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) model. The possible formation mechanism was proposed and discussed.