Synthesis, characterization and growth mechanism of α-Cr2O3 mono-dispersed particles

Abstract

Monodispersed spherical particles of Chromium (III) Oxide, α-Cr2O3, were successfully synthesized from a diluted solution of KCr(SO4)2.12 H2O using the Aqueous Chemical Growth (ACG) technique. The spherical α-Cr2O3 particles obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy for structural, surface morphology, chemical and physical properties, as a function of deposition time. The XRD and Raman spectroscopy showed that ageing had no apparent effect on the structure of the obtained uniform fine (in the range of micron to nano level)-spherical particles of α-Cr2O3. The use of SEM demonstrated that ageing had a clear influence on the size and the particles size distribution. Accordingly, the time dependence of the average diameter of α-Cr2O3spherical particles follows the d3 law as required for diffusion-limited Ostwald ripening.