Hydrothermal synthesis of nanoporous zinc aluminate with high surface area

Hydrothermal treatment at low temperatures is proposed for obtaining a nano crystalline zinc aluminate spinel of interesting properties from catalytic point of view, including high specific surface area (up to 340 m(2)/g), nan oporosity, and narrow pore size distribution. The precursors for hydrotherm al synthesis were basic aluminium nitrate having the empirical formula Al-2 (OH)(6-x)(NO3)(x) wherein x was equal or closed to 1, and hydrated zinc ace tate. The proposed synthesis, in contrast to other methods, does not requir e a high temperature calcination to obtain the spinel phase, The properties of hydrothermally obtained zinc aluminate spinel make them an advanced mat erial suitable for use in catalytic or high-tech ceramic applications. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.