Synthesis of flower-like Boehmite (AlOOH) via a simple solvothermal process without surfactant

Boehmite (AlOOH) with hierarchical flower-like structures was synthesized by the solvothermal reaction of AlCl{sub 3}.6H{sub 2}O in the presence of ethanol and toluene at 200 {sup o}C for 24 h. The product was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that boehmite with flower-like nanostructures, which aggregated together by the weak hydrogen bonds, was formed through dissolution-deposition process of boehmite microcrystals and the toluene has a great effect on the morphology of product in the reaction system. Meanwhile, the {gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} was also obtained by calcination of above product at 500 {sup o}C for 2 h, and the flower-like morphology kept no change. The surface area of {gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} powder was determined to be 166.8 m{sup 2}/g by N{sub 2} adsorption measurement. The possible formation mechanism of flower-like boehmite nanostructures was proposed and discussed.