Effect of precursors on the morphology of lithium aluminate prepared by hydrothermal treatment

Hydrothermal treatment method was proposed to prepare pure LiAlO2 with fibr ous crystal morphology and the effect of precursors on the morphology of li thium aluminate was investigated. Lithium butoxide-aluminum butoxide system gave mostly rod-like beta-LiAlO2 crystal. As the length of alkoxy group de creases, the fraction of plate shape crystals was increased and boehmite wa s dominant crystal phase. Needle-shape beta-LiAlO2 was produced from lithiu m nitrate-aluminum butoxide-sodium hydroxide system with the mole ratio of 6 : 1 : 3, respectively. beta-LiAlO2 prepared by hydrothermal treatment was transformed to gamma-LiAlO2 at 750-850 degrees C. The specific surface are a of gamma-LiAlO2 powders was above 10 m(2)/g. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Pub lishers.