Improved nanotube synthesis by the use of micro-waves

Abstract

International audienceThe synthesis of Imogolites nanotubes is a simple aqueous sol-gel process, consisting in a partial hydrolysis of a mixture of Al and Si (or Ge) monomers followed by a growth step requiring at least 5 days of heating. Here we describe an alternate way of obtaining these nanotubes by substituting convential heating in an oven with micro-wave heating. Tubes were obtained within the hour. When applying micro-waves during 2 hours, the tubes precursors were absent from the suspension and the size distribution of the tubes was shifted by one order of magnitude towards higher aspect ratios. The underlying mechanisms causing this improved synthesis are discusse