Effect of process parameters on the synthesis of nanocrystalline magnesium oxide with high surface area and plate-like shape by surfactant assisted precipitation method

A surfactant assisted precipitation method was employed for the preparation of nanocrystalline magnesium oxide with high specific surface area and plate-like shape. Ammonium hydroxide and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were used as precipitant and polymeric surfactant, respectively. The effects of several process parameters such as refluxing time, refluxing temperature and magnesium oxide to PVA monomer unit mole ratio (MgO/PVA) were investigated on the structural properties of the powders. The obtained results showed that the increase in refluxing time and temperature increased the specific surface area and decreased the crystallite size. The results revealed that the polymeric surfactant (PVA) has a significant effect on the synthesis of MgO nanocrystals and led to obtain a powder with higher surface area and plate-like shape.

Graphical abstractMagnesium oxide prepared by a refluxing method using ammonium hydroxide and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as precipitant and polymeric surfactant, respectively, showed a nanocrystalline structure with smaller crystallite size, higher surface area and a plate-like shape (a) which was quite different with the crystallite morphology of the sample prepared without addition of PVA (b).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide