Role of structural disorder in the vibrational spectra of sol–gel [formula omitted] and [formula omitted]-Al[formula omitted]O[formula omitted] nanoparticles.

Alumina nanopowders belonging to the γ and δ transition phases have been characterized by infrared and Raman spectroscopies. A quantitative interpretation of their vibrational spectra has been provided and related to their crystal structure, with particular emphasis on structural disorder and features not predicted by group-theoretical considerations. Both phases show very similar infrared dielectric functions, but with clear instances of mode-splitting in the δ phase, which are related to ordering in the tetrahedral Al positions. Raman spectroscopy was unable to resolve any modes in the sample identified as γ phase, but the full lattice vibrational region could be measured for the δ sample under UV and red excitation lines. Raman spectra are more complex than those obtained by infrared spectroscopy and cannot be completely explained by factor group analysis, in the absence of dedicated theoretical studies. Finally, the luminescent properties of these materials have been qualitatively explored and linked to disorder and substitutional impurities. In general, the results contained in this work prove that vibrational spectroscopies are powerful tools for quantitative analyses of these disordered nanomaterials and suggest the need for more theoretical work to understand their vibrational properties. [Display omitted] • Lattice vibrations of γ and δ alumina nanoparticles were studied by IR and Raman. • Particle size and structural disorder complicate analyses based on group theory. • IR modes observed only in δ are attributed to the ordering of tetrahedral Al cations. • Raman modes of δ can be observed at some excitation wavelengths, but not for γ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]