Abstract: | The transition of disc‐like chromium hydroxide nanomaterials to chromium oxide nanomaterials has been studied by hot‐stage Raman spectroscopy. The structure and morphology of α‐CrO(OH) synthesised using hydrothermal treatment were confirmed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Raman spectrum of α‐CrO(OH) is characterised by two intense bands at 823 and 630 cm?1 attributed to ν1 CrIII? O symmetric stretching mode and the band at 1179 cm?1 attributed to CrIII? OH δ deformation modes. No bands are observed above 3000 cm?1. The absence of characteristic OH stretching vibrations may be due to short hydrogen bonds in the α‐CrO(OH) structure. Upon thermal treatment of α‐CrO(OH), new Raman bands are observed at 599, 542, 513, 396, 344 and 304 cm?1, which are attributed to Cr2O3. This hot‐stage Raman study shows that the transition of α‐CrO(OH) to Cr2O3 occurs before 350 °C. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |