Article Title

Shape-controlled synthesis of Mn₃O₄ nanocrystals and their catalysis of the degradation of methylene blue

Authors

Pengqu Zhang, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
Yonggong Zhan, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Bingxin Cai, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
Chenchun Hao, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
Jun Wang, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
Chunxiao Liu, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
Zhoujun Meng, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
Zhoulan Yin, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Qiyuan Chen, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China

Keywords

Mn3O4, octahedron, nanocrystals, self-assembly, methylene blue

Abstract

Various sizes and shapes of Mn3O4 nanocrystals have been prepared in a one-pot synthesis in extremely dilute solution by soft template self-assembly. To better control size and shape, the effects of varying the growth time, reaction temperature, surfactant, and manganese source were examined. The average size of octahedral Mn3O4 crystallites was found to be related to the reaction time, while higher reaction temperature (150 °C) and the use of a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide/poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (CTAB/PVP) mixture allowed construction of a better-defined octahedral morphologies. When PVP or poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) (P123) was used as template, large-scale agglomeration resulting in loss of the octahedral morphology occurred and crystallites with a quasi-spherical shape were obtained. The nano-octahedral crystallites were shown to be an efficient catalyst for the oxidation of methylene blue.

Graphical Abstract

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-010-1026-0

Publisher

Tsinghua University Press

Recommended Citation

Pengqu Zhang,Yonggong Zhan,Bingxin Cai,Chenchun Hao,Jun Wang,Chunxiao Liu,Zhoujun Meng,Zhoulan Yin,Qiyuan Chen, Shape-controlled synthesis of Mn3O4 nanocrystals and their catalysis of the degradation of methylene blue. NanoRes.2010, 3: 235–243