A New Method for the Synthesis of Alumina Nanotubes from Polymer Composite Materials

A new approach for the synthesis of Al 2 O 3 nanotube has been performed by the calcination of polymer composite materials fabricated via the simultaneous curing of furfuryl alcohol and the polymerization of aluminum isopropoxide. At first, mixture of furfuryl alcohol and aluminum isopropoxide was prepared and heated at 90 °C for 240 h. During this process, furfuryl alcohol is cured to release H 2 O, and the polymerization of aluminum isopropoxide is promoted gradually by the generated H 2 O. Al 2 O 3 nanotube was obtained by the calcination of the polymer composite materials at 1300 °C in argon for 2 h followed by the carbon elimination at 700 °C for 120 min in atmospheric conditions. The nanotubes are typically about 1−2 μm in length; the outer diameter and wall thickness are about 30−70, and 10 nm, respectively, for most of the nanotubes.