Nucleation of CaCO3 polymorphs from a colloidal alcoholic solution of Ca(OH)2 nanocrystals exposed to low humidity conditions

A study of the stability of calcium carbonate polymorphs formed as a result of the carbonation process from an alcoholic colloidal solution of nanocrystals of Ca(OH)2 in low relative humidity (RH) conditions (33% and 54% RH) is presented in this research. The crystalline behavior, the time dependenc...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Gómez Villalba, Luz Stella, López-Arce, Paula, Fort González, Rafael
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2011
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/115834
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/115834
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Condensed Matter Physics
Characterization and Evaluation of Materials
Nanotechnology
Surfaces and Interfaces
Optical and Electronic Materials
Operating Procedures
Materials Treatment
Thin Films
Descripción
Sumario:A study of the stability of calcium carbonate polymorphs formed as a result of the carbonation process from an alcoholic colloidal solution of nanocrystals of Ca(OH)2 in low relative humidity (RH) conditions (33% and 54% RH) is presented in this research. The crystalline behavior, the time dependence of nucleation and the phases’ transformations as a result of exposure to low humidity conditions are evaluated. The carbonation process is slow, starting with the nucleation of amorphous calcium carbonate, associated to an amorphization process that affects both the portlandite (Ca(OH)2) and the initial unstable CaCO3 polymorphs. The excess of alcohol in the solution decreases the surface tension and the nucleation is accelerated by the fast evaporation of the solvent, which avoids the particles to diffuse to their lowest energy sites, giving smaller particles with lower crystallinity as RH decreases.