A room temperature process for making Mn2O3 nano-particles and γ-MnOOH nano-rods

Nano-size crystals of Mn₂O₃ and MnOOH have been prepared by a simple precipitation process using dilute aqueous solutions of manganese sulphate and ammonia in the presence of sodium lauryl sulphate — a surface active agent. X-ray diffraction spectrometry has been used to identify the phases and to calculate the size of the nano-size crystals using the Scherrer method. The morphology of the crystals has been studied by TEM/HRTEM and Edax has been used to estimate their elemental constituents. The sonication of the prepared nano-size material in acetone leads to the conversion of MnOOH to nano-sized Mn₂O₃.