A novel method to prepare Cr2O3 nanoparticles

By the reaction system of CrO3 and HCHO in aqueous solution, Cr2O3 nanoparticles were first prepared via hydrothermal synthesis. The process can be easily scaled up. The reaction time was only I h and the reaction temperature was 170 degrees C. The products were loosely agglomerated Cr2O3 particles of 50-70 nm in average particle size calculated from the Scherrer's formula, whose microstructure and that of the precursor were investigated by SEM. And IR, TG and BET were other characterization methods to study the process. The findings showed that the higher calcination temperature and the higher total concentration were factors to result in the larger average particle size. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.