Effect of temperature and reaction time of the synthesis of nanocrystalline brucite

Abstract

Mg(OH)2 nanoparticles has been successfully synthesized by means of the hydrothermal method. The effect of the reaction time and the synthesis temperature on the nanoparticles obtained has also been studied. The physic-chemical properties of the synthesized brucite samples have been characterized by X-Ray-diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-rays analysis (SEM/EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), thermogravimetry/ differential scanning Calorimetry (TG-DSC) and in situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD). The influence of the synthesis parameters in the brucite samples has been discussed in detail. Furthermore, it has been shown that the increase of temperature from 180 to 200ºC improves the crystallinity degree of Mg(OH)2 nanostructured particles and also, promotes the formation of plates with bigger uniform size. As well, the increase in the time reaction induces the formation of bigger size brucite plates. So, this hydrothermal method has been shown to be a really promising method for the large scale production.