Simple Synthesis of Single-crystalline Nanoplates of Magnesium Oxide

Single-crystalline nanoplates of magnesium oxide were successfully synthesized through a calcinations route from the newly produced Mg(OH)2 precursors, which were directly prepared from the commercial bulk magnesium powders under a hydrothermal process in the absence of any additions. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis indicated that the nanoplates were 2-6 μm in average width and about 80 nm in thickness.Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed that there was large quantity of nanopores with diameters ranging from 5 to 40 nm distributed in these nanoplates. The room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of the nanoplates illustrated a strong blue emission band at 416 nm and a weak green emission band at 559 nm. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis exhibited a feature of high surface of 127.21 m2/g for the products. The fabrication mechanism of the product was also discussed.