Microwave-hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of nano Mg-Al LDHs

Nano Mg-Al LDHs were prepared from MgO and Al (OH)3by microwave-hydrothermal method. Obtained reaction products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Higher temperature and prolonged time are favorable to diminish impurity and increase of the crystallite sizes of Mg-Al LDHs. Only 1 min at 180°C under microwave-hydrothermal conditions can fabricate nearly phase pure Mg-Al LDHs. Single phase of Mg-Al LDHs with the average crystallite size of about 35 nm can be synthesized at 180°C for 30 min. Results indicate that microwave-hydrothermal conditions can profoundly promote dissociation rate of the precursors, accelerate nucleation and growth rates of Mg-Al LDHs.