Synthesis of nanosized CuCrO 2 porous powders via a self-combustion glycine nitrate process

Abstract

The glycine nitrate process has been successfully employed to prepare nanosized, porous, stoichiometric, homogeneous CuCrO 2 powders without ambient control. In this method, a precursor solution was prepared by mixing glycine with an aqueous solution of blended (Cu–Cr) metal–nitrates in their stoichiometric ratios. The glycine-mixed precursor solution was first heated in a beaker to evaporate excess water for forming a viscous bluish semi-transparent gel. The beaker was then covered with a metallic mesh, and the temperature increased slowly to 170 °C to auto-ignite the material. The combustion was self-sustaining and very rapid, producing gray colored powders. The as-prepared powders were nanosized (∼20 nm) into a spherical shape and crystallized in a delafossite structure. The powders showed a very large surface area of 30.92 m 2/g, as determined by BET surface area measurements. The SEM/TEM studies on these powders confirmed their nanosized nature and porous structure.