Metal oxides (MOs) nanomaterials are promising candidates to address current energy challenges. Our interest encompasses the synthesis, modification and characterization of various MOs (e.g. MgO, ZnO and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>). Nanoparticles MgO and ZnO are produced using a novel vapor based method that can yield particles with narrow size distribution (few to several hundreds nanometers) and selective microstructure. Moreover, efforts were made with the transition alumina phases produced from the same Boehmite starting material via calcination. The structure and the physicochemical properties of each MO nanomaterial attract attention for potential applications in fields such as catalysis, gas separation, as well as, energy storage. Our present interest is to develop a viable, non-solvent based method for decorating these MOs nanoparticles with metallic nanoclusters in order to modify the properties of such supports. A modified, magnetron-based physical vapor deposition (PVD) apparatus has been assembled to prepare these materials. We will present the results of these efforts including their characterization thermodynamics, diffraction and microscopy.

Preparation of pure and decorated metal oxide materials for energy applications using novel physical deposition methods and their characterization

254th National Meeting (2017)

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