Composites of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are important materials to utilize the optical properties of CQDs in diverse applications including photoluminescence-based sensing and LED phosphors. Combining pre-prepared CQDs with a polymeric matrix usually causes changes in the optical properties of CQDs due to unavoidable aggregation. Recently, the preparation of composites based on in-situ formed CQDs has been debated to overcome the aggregation limits of the conventional mixing methods. Herein, we have demonstrated the synthesis of homogeneous CQDs composites by simple thermal annealing blends of aluminum hydroxide (AlOH), citric acid (CA), and urea (URA). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy studies revealed the formation of individual CQDs with a diameter of about 2–9 nm dispersed homogeneously over the AlOH matrix. The composites have a broad excitation band centered at about 360 nm and exhibit excitation-dependent photoluminescence which was similar to that of hydrothermally synthesized CQDs from CA and URA. The photoluminescent intensity of the composite was stable to UV irradiation and responded selectively to Cu(II) ion demonstrating its potential application in Cu(II) sensing.

In this study, a new, relatively simple fabrication method for forming a mesoporous Al(OH)3 film onAl substrates was demonstrated. This method, i.e., alkali surface modification, was simply comprised of dippingthe substrate in a 5×10-3M NaOH solution at 80oC for one minute and then immersing it in boiling waterfor 30 minutes. After alkali surface modification, a mesoporous Al(OH)3 film was formed on the Al substrate,and its chemical state and crystal structure were confirmed by XPS and TEM. According to the results of theXPS analysis, the flake-like morphology after the alkali surface modification was mainly composed of Al(OH)3,with a small amount of Al2O3. The mesoporous Al(OH)3 layer was composed of three regions: an amorphous-rich region, a region of mixed amorphous and crystal domains, and a crystalline-rich region near the Al(OH)3layer surface. It was confirmed that the stabilization process in the alkali surface modification stronglyinfluenced the crystallization of the mesoporous Al(OH)3 layer.

Aluminum hydroxides were synthesized by a simple electrolytic reaction of aluminum plates. The aluminum hydroxide, boehmite (AlO(OH)), was predominantly formed in the application of electrical potential at and above 30V, while the mixture of bayerite () and boehmite (AlO(OH)) phases were formed below 20V. The boehmite has a clear fibrous structure controlled on nanometer scale. On the contrary, the bayerite consists of the typical hourglass or semi-hourglass shaped coarse crystals as a result of aggregation of various crystals stacked together. The specific surface area of the boehmite nanofiber was markedly high, approaching at about .

The results obtained are summarized as follows; (1) Boehmite produced in the high temperature and acid region showed a nano fibrous shape with several nm in diameter and several hundreds nm in length having high specific surface areas with a maximum value of . (2) In order to obtain nano fibrous boehmite with high surface areas from nano metal powder, the hydrolysis reaction should be done at a high temperature over , high acidity under pH 6, and terminated before a transition to the bayerite phase.

In order to remove fluoride ions from aqueous solution, PVC-Al(OH)3 beads were prepared by immobilizing Al(OH)3 with polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The prepared PVC-Al(OH)3 bead was characterized by using SEM, EDS and Zeta potential. Dependences of pH, contact time and initial fluoride concentration on the adsorption of fluoride ions were studied. The optimal pH was in the range of 4～10. The adsorption was rapid during the initial 12 hr, and equilibrium was attained within 72 hr. The adsorption rate of fluoride ions by PVC-Al(OH)3 beads obeyed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained from Langmuir isotherm model was found to be 62.68 mg/g.