Structure model of γ-Al2O3 based on planar defects

The defect structure of γ-Al₂O₃ derived from boehmite was investigated using a combination of selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Both methods confirmed a strong dependence of the diffraction line broadening on the diffraction indices known from literature. The analysis of the SAED patterns revealed that the dominant structure defects in the spinel-type γ-Al₂O₃ are antiphase boundaries located on the lattice planes , which produce the sublattice shifts . Quantitative information about the defect structure of γ-Al₂O₃ was obtained from the powder XRD patterns. This includes mainly the size of γ-Al₂O₃ crystallites and the density of planar defects. The correlation between the density of the planar defects and the presence of structural vacancies, which maintain the stoichiometry of the spinel-type γ-Al₂O₃, is discussed. A computer routine running on a fast graphical processing unit was written for simulation of the XRD patterns. This routine calculates the atomic positions for a given kind and density of planar defect, and simulates the diffracted intensities with the aid of the Debye scattering equation.

Molecular self-assembly of nylon-12 nanorods cylindrically confined to nanoporous alumina

Molecular self-assembly of nylon-12 rods in self-organized nanoporous alumina cylinders with two different diameters (65 and 300 nm) is studied with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) in symmetrical reflection mode. In a rod with a 300 nm diameter, the tendency of the hydrogen-bonding direction of a γ-form crystal parallel to the long axis of the rod is not clear because of weak two-dimensional confinement. In a rod with a diameter of 65 nm, the tendency of the hydrogen-bonding direction of a γ-form crystal parallel to the long axis of the rod is more distinct because of strong two-dimensional confinement. For the first time, selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) is applied in a transmission electron microscope to a polymer nanorod in order to determine the hydrogen-bond sheet and lamellar orientations. Results of TEM-SAED and WAXD showed that the crystals within the rod possess the γ-form of nylon-12 and that the b axis (stem axis) of the γ-form crystals is perpendicular to the long axis of the rod. These results revealed that only lamellae with 〈h0l〉 directions are able to grow inside the nanopores and the growth of lamellae with 〈hkl〉 (k ≠ 0) directions is stopped owing to impingements against the cylinder walls. The dominant crystal growth direction of the 65 nm rod in stronger two-dimensional confinement is in between the [-201] and [001] directions due to the development of a hydrogen-bonded sheet restricted along the long axis of the rod.