Role of CO₂ and Glycerol in the Formation of Urchin-Like Strontium Carbonate Particles

Abstract

Green synthesis of micro/nanomaterials, using glycerol as a sustainable solvent, offers environmentally and health-friendly pathways. Glycerol’s versatility in a solvothermal synthesis is effective for nanoparticle production, yet its mechanistic role in carbonate material formation is unexplored. This study investigates urchin-like strontium carbonate formation via a glycerol-mediated solvothermal synthesis, employing in situ transmission electron microscopy (in situ TEM), scanning electron microscopy, density function theory (DFT), scanning transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. In situ TEM observations unveil the initial stages of strontium hydroxide nucleation and subsequent growth as an intermediate phase. The findings suggested that the hyperbranched polymerization of glycerol plays a pivotal role in the formation of urchin-like morphology. Furthermore, the synergistic effect of glycerol and CO2 is proposed as the primary driver for the formation of strontium carbonate. Notably, observations showed a morphological transition from spherical to urchin-like with increasing reaction time. DFT studies proposed glycerol as a coadsorbent, boosting the adsorption energy of CO2 and directing its interaction with Sr(OH)2 resulting in the stable formation of SrCO3. This research provides valuable insights into the urchin-like strontium carbonate formation in a time-dependent process driven by the polymerization of glycerol and its high reactivity with dissolved CO2 at elevated temperatures.