Synthesis of aluminium nitride nanocrystals and their catalytic effect on the polymerization of benzene

Abstract

Aluminium nitride (AlN) nanocrystals were prepared by the benzene thermal method at low temperature (110oC) and low pressure (0.12–0.14 MPa). Owing to the catalytic effect of AlN nanocrystals, 5–8% benzene was converted at 150oC and 0.1–0.3 MPa into several polymers, mainly cyclohexylbenzene, 1, 1'-biphenyl and 1', 1-methylenebisbenzene. In contrast, when the pure benzene without AlN nanocrystals was heated to 200oC, no new product could be detected. The mechanism of the polymerization of benzene in the presence of AlN nanocrystals is briefly discussed on basis of a model of the coordination chemistry.