Effects of surfactants, solvents and time on the morphology of MgO nanoparticles prepared by the wet chemical method

Magnesium oxide nanoparticles with different morphologies, including sphere, flower-like, sheet, rod-like and plate shapes have been synthesized in different solvents and surfactants. During this study, magnesium hydroxide nanostructure was prepared in aqueous and organic solvents using magnesium acetate and ammonia solution as precursors. The phase purity was confirmed by XRD. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) observations show that the solvents, surfactants and time affect the morphology of magnesium oxide produced. It was found that having solvent changed from DMSO to H2O in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol 72000, altered the morphology from rod-like to nanosheet. It was also observed that by changing calcination temperature from 500 °C to 750 °C in the presence of polyethylene glycol 400 altered the morphology from sphere to pyramid. Finally, the effects of solvents, surfactants and time on the morphology and crystallite size of the magnesium oxide have been investigated.