Microwave Synthesis of a Fluorescent Ruby Powder

Abstract

Ruby (aluminum oxide doped with Cr) powders were synthesized using a assisted microwave combustion method in an approach developed to involve students in a research-like experiment. The synthesis is fast (5 min) and efficient. It demonstrates many properties of ruby such as atomic structure, color, and fluorescence as a function of increasing doping content.

Integrating Lecture and Laboratory Work for a Materials Chemistry Course to Engage and Motivate Students through Highly Visual and Intriguing Syntheses

“…Then five laboratory sessions (3 h each, weeks 5–9) follow, including the syntheses of ferrofluids, superconductors, phosphorescent materials, rubies, and opals. Parts of the protocol materials have been published in the Journal of Chemical Education . − Table contains a brief description of the synthesis of each of the materials (see the Supporting Information also). These laboratory sessions were chosen to illustrate key concepts, to see things for real, to search for the relevant synthesis protocol in the literature, to introduce new equipment or methodologies to the students, to train them in specific practical skills, to manage safety issues, to teach experimental design, and, finally, to develop collaborative, logical reasoning and interpretative skills …”

Some Like It Hot: Experimentally Determining ΔΔH⧧, ΔΔS⧧, and ΔΔG⧧ between Kinetic and Thermodynamic Diels–Alder Pathways Using Microwave-Assisted Synthesis

“…1−18 Numerous undergraduate experiments using commercial reactors have been developed, including Friedel−Crafts acylations, 1 aldol condensations and conjugate additions, 3,15 Wolff−Kishner reductions, 4 carbonyl-based additions and substitutions, 5,6,13,14,16 and synthesis of fluorescent inorganic materials. 12 Domestic microwave ovens have been successfully used as a cost-effective synthetic tool in the undergraduate lab 19−21 but suffer from poor efficiency and reproducibility. Variability in heating and the lack of pressure regulation on domestic microwaves makes monitoring reaction kinetics or product ratios with any degree of reproducibility incredibly challenging.…”

“…Incorporation of microwave-assisted synthetic techniques is becoming increasingly popular across multiple disciplines of research and chemistry education. − Numerous undergraduate experiments using commercial reactors have been developed, including Friedel–Crafts acylations, aldol condensations and conjugate additions, , Wolff–Kishner reductions, carbonyl-based additions and substitutions, ,,,, and synthesis of fluorescent inorganic materials . Domestic microwave ovens have been successfully used as a cost-effective synthetic tool in the undergraduate lab − but suffer from poor efficiency and reproducibility.…”

The Hunt for Maya Purple: Revisiting Ancient Pigments Syntheses and Properties

“…Thus, these syntheses are very good tools to gain students interest and to quickly investigate change in the reaction conditions. For more than 15 years, the “Chimie: Science Magique” program has been designing high impact laboratory experiments involving undergraduate students in the research process. − This inquiry-based approach ,, was applied to the synthesis of Maya blue and derivatives. The classical indigo and Maya blue syntheses were initially mastered by the undergraduates during the basic training, and then they were challenged in a “Genius Session” to use the acquired basic skills to find a quicker new synthesis route while making new materials with modified properties.…”