Green and facial combustion synthesis of Sr3Al2O6 nanostructures; a potential electrochemical hydrogen storage material

Abstract

Nanoscale strontium aluminum oxides (Sr3Al2O6) were successfully synthesized via a combustion method in combination with thermal treatment using single fuel. Maltose, glucose and urea were used separately as a fuel in order to obtain pure crystalline phase. The lattice structures of as-prepared nanoparticles were identified from XRD patterns. Scherrer equation was confirmed the nanocrystallite formation of the materials. The narrow distribution of the particles with normal probability of average grain sizes of 26.5 nm (in the range of 20–35 nm) were observed in microscopic analysis. The FTIR results clearly confirmed the formation of metal-oxygen and metal-metal bonds of the product. The band gap energy (Eg) of the sample was calculated about 3.30 eV. The photoluminescence spectrum was gained a broad peak at 360 nm (Eg = 3.49 eV). Physical and structural intrinsic features of strontium aluminates have rendered the nanomaterials might be suitable for energy storage applications. The discharge capacity of the sample was recorded after 15 cycles at about 2500 mA hh/g.