Disperse fine equiaxed α-Al2O3 nanoparticles with narrow size distribution are important materials in nanotechnology and nanomaterials, but syntheses of disperse fine equiaxed α-Al2O3 nanoparticles usually result in fine γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles or large α-Al2O3 nanoparticles larger than 15 nm. α-Al2O3 has a higher surface energy than γ-Al2O3 and becomes thermodynamically not stable with respect to γ-Al2O3 at specific surface areas larger than 100 m2/g (at sizes smaller than 15 nm for spherical particles) at room temperature. So disperse fine equiaxed α-Al2O3 nanoparticles smaller than 15 nm with narrow size distribution are extremely difficult to synthesise. Here we show the successful synthesis of disperse fine equiaxed α-Al2O3 nanoparticles with average sizes below 10 nm and narrow size distribution by selective corrosion and refined fractionated coagulation separation. An almost fully dense nanocrystalline α-Al2O3 ceramic with a relative density of 99.5% and an average grain size of 60 nm can be sintered from disperse fine equiaxed α-Al2O3 nanoparticles with narrow size distribution.

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A series of BiFeO3 nanopowders were prepared by the sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that their rhombohedral crystal symmetry remains unchanged. However, as the particle size decreases, the edge length of the unit cell increases markedly and the angle between the edges deviates increasingly from 60°. Magnetic measurements show obvious weak ferromagnetism. The magnetization and magnetic susceptibility increase with decreasing particle size. Mössbauer studies reveal that the spin canting angles in the smaller particles are bigger and have a wider distribution. The magnetic structure in these particles is a complicated uncompensated antiferromagnetic spin arrangement.

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