Structural, Optical and Magnetic Studies of Cr2O3 Nanoparticles Prepared by Microwave-Assisted

Abstract

In this paper, quasi-rectangular Cr2O3 nanoparticles were prepared by microwave-assisted solution using Cr(NO3)2.6H2O and salicylic acid at the presence of NaOH in optimum conditions for the power of 360 W, the temperature of 50 oC and the time duration of 30 min. The as-prepared chromium precursor was annealed in an air atmosphere at two different temperatures, 500 oC and 600 oC, for 3 h. Quasi-rectangular Cr2O3 nanoparticles were prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The sharp peaks in FT-IR spectra and high intensity peaks in XRD patterns confirm that the single and pure phase existence of the Cr2O3 nanoparticles with an average nanoparticle size of 25 nm. The optical band gap (Eg) values of the as-prepared Cr2O3 nanoparticles calculated were in the range of 1.6 and 1.8 eV, respectively. The TEM images revealed a highly homogeneous quasi-rectangular morphology without any agglomeration. The magnetic properties of the Cr2O3 nanoparticles show weak ferromagnetic behavior.