One-step synthesis of hollow Cr(OH)3 micro/nano-hexagonal pellets and the catalytic properties of hollow Cr2O3 structures

Abstract

Novel Cr(OH)₃ hollow hexagonal pellets are synthesized at room temperature based on the chemical reaction between CrCl₃ and NaBH₄ in aqueous solution without any templates and surfactants. The evolution of the products obtained at different reaction times revealed that the hollow structure was formed via an orientation self-assembly and selective-etching process. The size and shape of the Cr(OH)₃ hollow hexagonal pellets can be adjusted by changing the reaction conditions. Annealing these Cr(OH)₃ hollow pellets at high temperatures convert them into Cr₂O₃ hollow structures, which are demonstrated in this paper to exhibit better catalytic performance than conventional Cr₂O₃ nanoparticles in the dehydrogenation of isobutane. This template-free and surfactant-free method enables low cost and high yield synthesis of hollow micro/nanostructures.