Large-Scale Growth of Tubular Aragonite Whiskers through a MgCl(2)-Assisted Hydrothermal Process

In this paper, we have developed a facile MgCl(2)-assissted hydrothermal synthesis route to grow tubular aragonite whiskers on a large scale. The products have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy, and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The results show the as-grown product is pure tubular aragonite crystalline whiskers with a diameter of 5–10 μm and a length of 100–200 μm, respectively. The concentration of Mg(2+) plays an important role in determining the quality and purity of the products. Furthermore, the method can be extended to fabricate CaSO(4) fibers. The high quality of the product and the mild conditions used mean that the present route has good prospects for the growth of inorganic crystalline whiskers.