Characteristics and formation of [AlO4Al12（OH）24（H2O）12]7+ in electrolysis process

[AlO4Al12(OH)24(H2O)12] + (Al13) formation in electrolysis process is studied. The results detected by27Al NMR spectroscopy show that high content of Al13 polymer is formed in the partially hydrolyzed aluminum solution prepared by controlled electrolysis process. In the produced electrolyte of total Al concentration ([AlT]) 2.0 mol · L-1 with a basicity (B = OH/Al molar ratios) of 2.0, the content of Al13 polymer is over 60% of total Al. Dynamic light scattering shows that the size distribution of the final electrolyte solutions ([AlT] = 2.0 mol · L-1) is trimodal with B = 2.0 and bimodal with B = 2.5. The aggregates of Al13 complexes increase the particle size of partially hydrolyzed aluminum solution.