Synthesis of metal oxide particles from aqueous media: The homogeneous alkalinization method

An analysis of the urea method as a way to synthesize uniform colloidal particles is presented. Various selected cases of precipitation and coprecipitation are reviewed to illustrate the inherent complexities of the method. The importance of the kinetics of urea hydrolysis is recognized. The concept of trajectory is used to rationalized the evolution of the systems upon aging. The influence of thermodynamic and kinetic factors in the definition of the nature of the precipitating solid phases is analyzed; the overriding role of the latter is stressed. The factors that influence particle morphology are also addressed.