Synthesis and characterization high purity alumina nanorods by a novel and simple method using nanocellulose aerogel template

Highly porous nanofibrillated cellulose aerogel fibers (NFCA) prepared from bagasse pulp was used as a template for in situ preparation of alumina nanorods. NFCA was soaked in aluminum nitrate aqueous solution followed by soaking in ammonium hydroxide solution to generate aluminum hydroxide within the porous structure and at surface of NFCA. Sintering of NFCA/Al (OH)(3) was carried out at 1100 °C to produce nano-sized alumina with rod-like structure. The synthesized Al(2)O(3) nanorods were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and high resolution transmitted electron microscope (HR-TEM). The Al(2)O(3) rods had width from 123 to 86 nm while their length was in the micrometer range, as shown from SEM and HR-TEM images. The selected area X-ray diffraction (SEAD) showed rhombohedral crystal structure. XRD pattern confirmed formation of α-alumina. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) showed purity of the prepared Al(2)O(3).