Synthesis of CaCO3 nanoparticles via citrate method and sequential preparation of CaO and Ca(OH)2 nanoparticles

Calcium carbonate nanoparticles were synthesized via so-called solgel citrate method using calcium nitrate as precursor in presence of different concentration of citric acid, selected to be 0.0, 0.5, 1.25 and 2.5 times of the concentration of the precursor, on calcining at 600 degrees C for 5 h. Stable phase of the calcite is formed in presence of citric acid. The roles of organic additive concentration, calcination temperature and sonication on the particle size of the products were investigated. Calcium oxide nanoparticles were prepared by facial calcination of the resulted product at 900 degrees C for 5 h. Calcium hydroxide nanoparticles, however, were synthesized on sonication of the product for 20 min in water at room temperature. Samples were characterized by XRD and FT-IR studies. Crystallite size of samples was calculated by XRD data and was measured by TEM analysis. The specific surface are (SSA) of samples was calculated by the XRD data and compared by the measured BET. (C) 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)