Synthesis and Characterization of a Nanorefractory Dimetaloxide Spinel

Abstract

The aim of this work consists of synthesis of nanocrystalline single-phase MgAl₂O₄ powders from comparatively less expensive raw materials and simple methods. We have used conventional heating in two different chemical routes, co-precipitation and combustion methods. In the first procedure combination of precipitation and gelation process is used to prepare spinel from aluminum and magnesium sulfates. The other involved a rapid evaporation of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) that added to a mixed metal nitrate solution, followed by pyrolysis of the dried mass. X-ray diffraction patterns show that obtained nanoparticles are pure and single-phase. Sizes of nanoparticles were calculated by Scherrer equation. Data indicate that the average size of nanoparticles is around 30~nm. SEM images confirmed the results of XRD patterns and show that the nanoparticles prepared via these chemical routes had spherical shape with homogenous morphology. The surface areas of the prepared powders (S_BET) were measured and compared to each other. [DOI: 10.1380/ejssnt.2010.112]