One-dimensional alumina nanorods have garnered significant attention due to their unique physical and chemical properties, which hold great promise for applications in catalysis, sensing, and other fields. However, the precise control over the morphology and properties of these nanorods remains a challenge, particularly in achieving a high specific surface area and desirable crystallinity. In this work, we explored the hydrothermal synthesis of alumina nanorods, focusing on the effects of structure-directing agents. It was observed that extending the hydrothermal time and optimizing the temperature led to the formation of nanorods with enhanced crystallinity and specific surface area. The addition of urea and different structure-directing agents significantly influenced the morphology and properties of the nanorods. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed the underlying mechanisms of how these structure-directing agents affect the adsorption and growth of alumina nanorods on different crystal planes. Our findings suggest that by carefully tuning these parameters, it is possible to achieve alumina nanorods with optimized properties. This work not only provides a systematic approach to the synthesis of alumina nanorods but also opens up new possibilities for the development of advanced materials with tailored properties for a wide range of applications.
Zhao et al. (Sat,) studied this question.