Catalysed growth of novel aluminium oxide nanorods

Micron-scale coral-like aluminium oxide structures have been generated by heating a mixture of AlB2 and Co powders in a quartz boat at ca. 1050 degreesC under N-2 Upon sonication in acetone, the structures break down into elongated single-crystal aluminium oxide nanorods ranging from 20 to 200 nm in diameter and up to 5 mum in length. Single Co particles are often found attached to nanorod tips. A vapour-liquid-solid (V-L-S) mechanism appears to be responsible for the aluminium oxide nanorod growth.