Growth and structure of microscale fibers as precursors of alumina nanofibers Original Research Article

There is a new proposed technique for obtaining two types of nanoscale aluminum oxide fibers using a sol–gel method. At the surface of hydrated aluminum oxide gels a spontaneous fiber structure formation takes place, where crystalline ammonium chloride acts as the basic component. These synthesized fibers have been studied by SEM, ТEM, XRPD and DTA methods, and by FTIR spectroscopy. Nanoscale fibers are generated by thermal treatment of fiber structures. Organic components being present in the system, the alumina fiber diameter is 100–150 nm, while in their absence the diameter varies from 50 to 90 nm. Mechanisms of the fiber growth and nanoscale aluminum oxide fiber formation in the process of thermal treatment are proposed .