Facile synthesis of mesoporous α-Mn2O3 microspheres via morphology conserved thermal decomposition of MnCO3 microspheres

In this article, we report on the synthesis and characterisation of novel mesoporous alpha-Mn2O3 microspheres obtained by the thermal decomposition of hydrothermally grown Mn2O3. The porous, hierarchical Mn2O3 microspheres were obtained without the use of any structural directing agents or templates. The self-sacrificing template character of the hydrothermally grown Mn2O3 is clearly presented here. Body centred cubic phase pure crystalline structure of Mn2O3 was acquired at 600 degrees C, whereas a minor Mn2O3 phase was detected at 500 degrees C. The microsphere-like morphology of the intermediate precursor and the final products was clearly observed in the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images, which depicted the morphology conserved thermal decomposition process. Roughly spherical and elongated Mn2O3 sub-nanoparticles were hierarchically gathered inside the microspheres, which points to the development of a mesoporous texture, as confirmed by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and porosity studies. The optical properties studied using photoluminescence spectroscopy indicated its applications under UV-light. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.