Copper–Zinc–Cobalt–Aluminium–Chromium Hydroxycarbonates and Mixed Oxides

Abstract

Hydroxycarbonate precursors with different Cu/Zn/Co/Al/Cr atomic ratios were prepared by coprecipitation of the metal nitrates with a stoichiometric amount of NaHCO3under controlled conditions of temperature, stirring, and pH. Cu–Zn–Co–Al–Cr mixed oxides were obtained by decomposition of the precursors at different temperatures (623, 723, and 973 K in air). The characterization has been performed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in the UV–VIS–NIR region (DRS), thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), BET surface area determination, and measurements of magnetic susceptibility. The XRPD patterns show that the precursors are quasi-amorphous layered double hydroxides (LDHs or hydrotalcite-like materials with the general stoichiometric formula:MII6MIII2(OH)16CO3· 4H2O, whereMII= Cu, Zn, Co andMIII= Al, Cr) containing a variable amount of Cu2(OH)2CO3(malachite). The thermal decomposition of the precursors occurred through complete dehydration of the sample (up toT= 573 K) and further release of CO2(up toT= 773 K). The decomposition of Cu2(OH)2CO3occurred in a single step at about 653 K. The mixed oxides obtained by calcination of the precursors at 623 K were poorly crystalline materials. Crystalline oxide mixtures containing CuO, ZnO, and spinels as ZnCr2O4, ZnCo2O4, ZnAl2O4, and Co3O4in a solid solution were formed only at 973 K, after complete release of CO2.