A Facile and Low Cost Method for the Synthesis of Magnesium Oxide Nanostructures by Oxidation of Magnesium Metal

Magnesium oxide is an important semiconductor with a large band-gap having high surface reactivity and adsorption capacity, excellent thermodynamical stability, low dielectric constant, and low refractive index [1]. Magnesium oxide (MgO) is extensively used in catalysis, dye removing agents, defluorination, sensors, and CO2 storage materials [2]. In this research, a simple sonochemical method for the synthesis of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanostructures is presented. MgO nanostructures are synthesized via oxidation of magnesium metal (ribbons) by sodium hypochlorite under ultrasonic waves. The PEG is used as stabilizer. The structure, morphology and chemical compositions of the synthesized products were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), and SEM and TEM photography. More information is obtained by FTIR, UV-Vis and PL spectroscopy. The FT-IR spectra of MgO nanostructures shows a peak around 420 nm which is assigned to Mg-O phonon. The XRD pattern of the sample reveals that MgO nanostructures with cubic crystal system are obtained. The average size of MgO nanoparticle is estimated to be about 22 nm according Debye–Scherrer formula. TEM image shows the nanoplates of MgO are formed (Fig. 1).