Formation of (H+, Al+, Al2+) co-doped bayerite and gamma-Al2O3 plates from spinel-type related nanocondensates in water.

The Al2O3 nanocondensates of spinel-type related structures, i.e., gamma- and theta-type with a significant internal compressive stress via pulsed laser ablation in water were subjected to prolonged dwelling in water to form columnar bayerite plates for further transformation as platy gamma-Al2O3. Transmission electron microscopic observations indicated the gamma-Al2O3 follows the crystallographic relationship (100)b//(011)gamma; [001]b//[111]gamma with relic bayerite (denoted as b). The gamma-Al2O3 also shows {111} twin/faults and rock salt-type domains due to dehydroxylation of bayerite which involves {1111} shuffling and disordering of the Al ions in the octahedral and tetrahedral sites. The combined evidences of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy and UV-visible absorbance indicated that the H+, Al+ and Al2+ co-doped bayerite and gamma-Al2O3 composite plates have a minimum band gap as low as approximately 5 eV for potential catalytic and electro-optical applications in water environment.