Preparation of barium sulfate polycrystal from barium peroxide matrix

Morphological control of crystalline materials often plays a critical role in governing their properties. Here, microsoluble inorganic chemical BaO2 is utilized as the matrix to prepare polycrystal BaSO4 with corresponding macroscopic morphology. In-situ precipitation of Ba2+ realized by the competition of diffusion of Ba2+ decomposed from BaO2 matrix and nucleation of BaSO4 fabricates the polycrystal BaSO4 with macroscopic morphology of single crystal BaO2. The detailed studies demonstrate the pH value of solution and the concentration of SO42− have important influences on the morphology and integrity of BaSO4 polycrystal. This method may open a new general route for the synthesis of minerals with special macroscopic morphology.

► BaO2 acts as the matrix of BaSO4 polycrystal in the presence of H2O2. ► BaSO4 polycrystal is prepared by in-situ precipitation of BaSO4. ► The pH value and concentration of SO42− influence the morphology of polycrystal.