Abstract:

Hyperbranched α-GaOOH nanocrystals with a sheaflike morphology have been prepared via the alcoholysis process with GaCl₃ and methanol as the reactants in the presence of benzene as solvent in an autoclave. XRD patterns strongly indicate that the synthesized sample was α-GaOOH. SEM and TEM images indicate that the product was composed of hyperbranched α-GaOOH nanocrystals. For the formation of α-GaOOH hierarchical nanoarch
itectures, the crystal splitting growth mechanism plays a dominant role, which has been evidenced by the characterization of the timedependent morphologies of the prepared samples.

Key words: alcoholysis process, gallium oxyhydroxide, hyperbranched nanoarchitecture, crystal splitting mechanism