Effects of surfactants on morphology in synthesis of α-Mn2O3 nanostructures

Cubic and chain-like structure of α-Mn2O3 with a high surface area was prepared by air oxidation of manganese chloride through sol process by adding hexamine and mercaptosuccinic acid as wetting agent, respectively. The as-synthesized products were characterized with X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The possible formation mechanism of α-Mn2O3 cubic and chain-like nanostructures has been proposed and discussed.