MgO nanoparticles starting from Mg(OH)2colloidal suspensions synthesized by a facile and scalable process

In this paper, MgO nanoparticles are prepared by calcinating Mg(OH)2colloidal suspensions produced through an original, eco-friendly, single step, and scalable method. This method, based on an exchange ion process, is extremely simple and rapid (few minutes); it employs low-cost or renewable reactants, operates at room temperature and does not require intermediate steps, such as washings and purifications. The synthesized Mg(OH)2nanoparticles, as well as the MgO ones, are characterized by means of chemico-physical, microstructural and morphological analyses such as thermal analyses (TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), surface area measurements (BET) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Pure and crystalline phases are produced, characterized by very small crystals. MgO nanoparticles appear aggregated into large flocks, although maintaining a plate-like shape of the original hydrate phase; these flocks seem to be constituted by a two-dimensional network consisting of well-developed and roughly spherical and monodispersed nanoparticles, with size less than 10 nm.