Effect of Solvents on the Synthesis of SrAl2O4 Nanoparticles by Reverse Micelle Process

Three types of solvents with different polarity (cyclohexane, toluene and benzene), a nonionic surfactant Span 40 were used to prepare strontium aluminate (SrAl2O4) spinel nanoparticles by a reverse micelle method. The structure of SrAl2O4 nanoparticles was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphology and size of the synthesized materials were studied using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) with using software of IMAGE J. The effect of polarity of solvent on the size and morphology of nanomaterials was studied. It was found that increasing the polarity of solvent affected the average crystallite size of the final product and led to the formation of larger particles. Furthermore, the average particles size was increased from 22 to 37 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis of all the powders was calcined at 1000°C for 2h revealed the formation single phase hexagonal spinel structure. Polarity of solvent is a major factor in controlling the final particles size of SrAl2O4 powder.