I was trying to dissolve aluminium isopropoxide in 1)water 2) isopropanol and 3)ethanol as it was reported in various journals for the synthesis of Al2O3 nanoparticle. I found it is not dissolving. Anybody can account for what happened. Is there something to do with the make of Aluminium-i-Propoxide. I used C9H21AlO3.
you should use anhydrous solvents to dissolve it, e.g. water-free isopropanol. Otherwise hydrolysis to aluminum hydroxide would occur, which is insoluble
Dear K. Roman
Thank you and let me ask you, whether this hydrolysis of AIP is so instantaneous process that could happen in 1 or 2 sec. I really don't notice any reaction occurring while adding AIP.
I have never worked with isopropoxide of aluminum but usually alcoxides react violently with the moisture. It is even quite possible that your raw material is already partially hydrolyzed if the sample is not new and has not been stored under inert gas conditions. In any case, I would try water-free solvents. Both isopropanol and ethanol are actually supposed to dissolve it.
Aluminum isopropoxide is hardly soluble in cold isopropanol, but its solubility increases when heated. Freshly distilled aluminum isopropoxide is a viscous liquid that crystallizes in several hours. You should keep aluminum isopropoxide in a container that protects it from moisture; it quickly hydrolyzes in air, which is evident from the formation of white opaque oxide spots.
Please suggest me method to synthesize mesoporous Zirconia-alumina mixed oxide.
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