Template synthesis and characterization of mesoporous γ-Al2O3 hollow nanorods using Stevia rebaudiana leaf aqueous extract

• Published in: Ceramics international Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 4499 - 4506
• Main Authors: Rodríguez, Mirla, Sifontes, Ángela B., Méndez, Franklin J., Díaz, Yraida, Cañizales, Edgar, Brito, Joaquín L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2013
• Subjects: Aluminium; Aluminum; Aluminum oxide; Ceramics; Drying; Glycosides; Hollow nanorods; Nanorods; Stevia rebaudiana; Surface chemistry; γ-Al2O3; γ-Al2O3; Hollow nanorods; Stevia rebaudiana
• ISSN: 0272-8842; 1873-3956
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2012.11.044

Mesoporous γ-Al2O3 hollow nanorods have been synthesized using aluminum isopropoxide as Al source and Stevia rebaudiana leaf extract (a complex mixture of eight sweet diterpene glycosides including stevioside, rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, dulcoside and steviol bioside) as template to direct the formation of mesoporous alumina on the aqueous system. Several characterization techniques were used, including XRD, TGA, N2 physical adsorption, FE-SEM, TEM, and FT-IR. By drying the mixture at 80°C and then calcining it at 650°C, a material with high surface area (357m2/g) and uniform pore sizes was obtained. The diameter and the length of the synthesized hollow nanorods ranged from 13 to 25nm and from 40 to 50nm respectively.