Flame Spray synthesis of nanocrystalline alumina particles

Nanocrystalline alumina particles were synthesized in an indigenously built Flame Spray Pyrolysis (FSP) setup. Aluminium nitrate nonahydrate dissolved in methanol-water mixture was atomized by using a jet nebulizer. The droplets were then pyrolyzed in an oxy-LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) flame for yielding nanocrystalline alumina particles which were confirmed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. Particle morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The flame spray pyrolysis method was successfully used to synthesize agglomerate free, nanosized alumina particles of about 20-50 nm (α + γ phase) diameter which became 70-100 nm (α phase) after calcination.