Enhanced viscoelastic property of iron oxide nanoparticle decorated organoclay fluid under magnetic field.

Stable hydrophobic nanocomposites of magnetic nanoparticles and clay are prepared by the self-assembly of magnetite (FeO) nanoparticles on surfaces of exfoliated clay platelets. Due to the attractive interaction between hydrophobic groups, oleic acid coated nanoparticles are strongly attached to the surface of cetyl trimethylammonium cation coated clay platelets in organic media. Crystal structure and magnetic property of composite particles are examined using electron microscopy, x-ray diffractometer and vibration sample magnetometer.

Size-controlled synthesis of monodispersed mesoporous α-alumina spheres by a template-free forced hydrolysis method.

We demonstrated the formation of monodispersed spherical aluminum hydrous oxide precursors with tunable sizes by controlling the variables of a forced hydrolysis method. The particle sizes of aluminum hydrous oxide precursors were strongly dependent on the molar ratio of the Al(3+) reactants (sulfates and nitrates). In addition, the systematic phase and morphological evolutions from aluminum hydrous oxide to γ-alumina (Al(2)O(3)) and finally to α-Al(2)O(3) through thermal dehydrogenation were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).