Modification of Porous α-Al2O3 Ceramic by Boehmite Nanosheet Structures

Modification of porous ceramic materials makes it possible to improve their functional characteristics. In this study, we demonstrate the possibility of modifying macroporous Al2O3 ceramic with boehmite nanosheet structures using electroexplosive Al/AlN nanoparticles. To accomplish this, the porous ceramic is impregnated with a suspension of nanoparticles in ethanol, after which the reaction of hydrolysis and oxidation of the nanoparticles fixed in the bulk of the porous ceramic is carried out at 60 degrees C. As a result of the reaction, nanosheet structures of fine grained boehmite are formed on the ceramic surface. This makes it possible to substantially increase the specific surface area of the sample to 25.9 m(2)/g and to considerably improve the sorption characteristics of macroporous Al2O3 ceramic with respect to eosin dye. During the protective action, it is possible to adsorb up to 2.9 mg/g of the dye at a linear flow rate of 0.15 cm/s.