Synthesis, characterization and thermal analysis of Fe-doped boehmite nanofibres and nanosheets

It is important that one should have knowledge of the thermal stability of synthesized nanomaterials. In this research, thermal analyses of both dynamic and controlled rate thermal analysis (CRTA) combined with infrared emission spectroscopy have been used to determine the thermal stability of iron-doped boehmite. Iron-doped boehmite nanofibres with varying iron contents have been prepared at low temperature using hydrothermal treatment in the presence of non-ionic poly (ethylene oxide) surfactant. The TEM images show that the resulting nanostructures are predominantly nanofibres when Fe doping is less than 5%; in contrast, nanosheets are the dominant for 10% Fe-doped boehmite. No nanofibre was observed in the case of 20% Fe-doped boehmite, instead, nanotubes, nanosheets and iron-rich nanoparticles were formed. Both dynamic thermal analysis and CRTA show that Fe-doped boehmite nanomaterials dehydroxylate at higher temperatures than pure boehmite nanofibres. In general, the higher the doped Fe %, the higher the dehydroxylation temperature. The dehydroxylation temperature indicated in the infrared emission spectroscopy of doped boehmite nanomaterials is in harmony with those in other thermal analysis studies.