Study on the Synthesis of Nano-Crystalline Mg₂SiO₄ Powders by Aqueous Sol-Gel Process

Abstract

The forsterite-structure Mg2SiO4 was successfully synthesized by the aqueous sol-gel method using Si sols dioxide and magnesium nitrate as starting materials instead of expensive organic solvent and metal alkoxides. The as-prepared nanopowders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively. The results showed that the calcination process of gel consisted of a series of oxidation and combustion reactions, accompanied by significantly exothermal effects. Highly reactive nanosized Mg2SiO4 powders were successfully obtained at 850 °C with particle size of 60~80 nm.