Abstract
Chromium oxide nanocrystals were synthesized by solid thermal decomposition using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or a triblock copolymer (P123) as template agent at low temperature. The chromium oxide nanocrystals possess lamellar phase with disordered mesopore. The template surfactants (P123 or CTAB) and hydrated water play all important bridging role ill the aggregation of inorganic chromium species in the thermal decomposition of chromium nitration. The mesopores of chromium oxide are formed by eliminating CTAB or P123 from the Cr-surfactants composites with small shrinkage. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.