The effect of dispersing agent on the formation of aluminium nitride nanoparticles/whiskers

Abstract

The effect of the amount of dispersing agent on the formation of aluminium nitride (AlN) nanoparticles/whiskers is presented. Various levels of the dispersant [rice bran (RB)] concentration, mass ratio of Al/RB ranging from 0.43 (30:70) to 2.33 (70:30), were systematically investigated. After the heat treatment in a nitrogen atmosphere, all samples with different RB contents could be transformed to AlN nanoparticles and nanowhiskers with trace graphite. In this experiment, the dispersant concentration in the starting mixture not only affects the morphologies of the resultant AlN (particles/whiskers) but also makes the morphology of the AlN whiskers evolve. The mechanisms for the formation and the evolution of AlN whiskers are discussed.

Keywords:

• AlN nanowhiskers
• Rice bran
• Formation mechanism
• Cryomilling

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 51271175], China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2014M551484) and Jiangsu Planned Projects for Postdoctoral Research Funds (1302008A).