The Synthesis of Aluminum Clusters Using Naphthalene Based Crystallization Agents

Abstract

Oxy-Hydroxy-Aluminum clusters have various industrial uses, including waste water treatment and materials science. There may also be use for these clusters to remove contaminants from aqueous environmental systems. It is important to synthesize, then isolate these clusters to observe how they will behave and bind in environmental systems to contaminants or surfaces. Using basic starting materials, we are attempting to synthesize these clusters in aqueous systems for study. An aluminum hydroxide solution was created from Al(OH)3 dried gel with the addition of selenic acid. Then we attempted to isolate the clusters by slow evaporation or by using different naphthalene-based crystallization agents from previous work. Once the clusters were crystallized and observed under a microscope, we planned to characterize them using single x-ray diffraction. Our goal was to synthesize the Al8 selenate cluster, based on a previously synthesized Al8 sulfate cluster, using this dissolution method with selenic acid. It is unclear if this cluster is naturally occurring, though the conditions of synthesis are similar to acidic environmental systems including acid mine drainage or acid rain systems.