A Simple Method for Synthesis of γ-Aluminum Oxide Nanostructure Using PEG as a Neutral Surfactant

Nano-sized γ-Al2O3 was synthesized successfully by a simple method using Al2(SO4)3·18H2O as aluminium source and in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG 2000). FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to characterize the structure and morphology of synthesized powder. The results showed that PEG played a significant role in the decomposition of aluminum nitrate to γ-aluminum oxide nanoparticles with a size range of 10-15 nm. The experimental results showed that polyethylene glycol can avoid hard agglomerate during precipitation and that calcination temperature was the major factor to particles size of the final product and it played a significant role in the decomposition of aluminum nitrate to γ-aluminum oxide nanoparticles.