Facile synthesis of gallium oxide hydroxide by ultrasonic irradiation of molten gallium in water

This work describes the single-step synthesis of GaO(OH) by ultrasonic irradiation of molten gallium in warm water. The ultrasonic energy causes dispersion of the liquid gallium into micrometric spheres, as-well-as decomposition of some of the water into H-center dot and OH center dot radicals. The OH center dot radicals and the dissolved oxygen react on the surface of the gallium spheres to form crystallites of GaO(OH). These crystallites prevent the re-coalescence of the gallium spheres, and as the reaction proceeds all the gallium is converted into crystalline GaO(OH). (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.