Synthesis of basic magnesium carbonate microrods with a surface of “house of cards” structure

Basic magnesium carbonate (Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·4H2O) microrods with a surface of “house of cards” structure have been synthesized in an aqueous solution system without using any surfactants or templates during the precipitation process. By tuning the reaction temperature, the morphology evolved from microrod to microrod with a surface of “house of cards” structure. The products were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE–SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). It was found out that with the morphological transformation, their corresponding compositions also change from MgCO3·3H2O to Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·4H2O.