Abstract
In this work, zinc chromite (ZnCr2O4) nanostructures have been synthesized through co-precipitation method. The effect of various parameters such as alkaline agent, pH value, and capping agent type was investigated on purity, particle size and morphology of samples. It was found that particle size and morphology of the products could be greatly influenced via these parameters. The synthesized products were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The superhydrophilicity of the calcined oxides was investigated by wetting experiments and a sessile drop technique which carried out at room temperature in air to determine the surface and interfacial interactions. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of ZnCr2O4 nanoparticles was confirmed by degradation of anionic dyes such as Eosin-Y and phenol red under UV light irradiation. The obtained ZnCr2O4 nanoparticles exhibit a paramagnetic behavior although bulk ZnCr2O4 is antiferromagnetic, this change in magnetic property can be ascribed to finite size effects.
Highlights
Spinel compounds have a general formula AB2O4, in which the A-site is tetrahedrally coordinated and generally occupied by divalent cations (Mg, Mn, Ni, and Zn) and the B-site is octahedrally coordinated and occupied by trivalent cations (Al, Cr, and Fe)
ZnCr2O4 nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized from Zn(NO3)2. 6H2O and CrCl3. 6H2O by a simple co-precipitation method, under low temperature and ambient pressure
The fine and pure ZnCr2O4 nanoparticles were produced through adjusting the pH value, appropriate alkaline and capping agents
Summary
Spinel compounds have a general formula AB2O4, in which the A-site is tetrahedrally coordinated and generally occupied by divalent cations (Mg, Mn, Ni, and Zn) and the B-site is octahedrally coordinated and occupied by trivalent cations (Al, Cr, and Fe). In solid-state science, oxides with spinel structures are some of the most studied compounds due to their wide range of applications. Spinels such as ZnCr2O4 containing transition metal ions can act as the efficient catalysts in the number of heterogeneous chemical processes such as carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation[1], catalytic combustion of hydrocarbons[2], reduction of several organic molecules[3], sensing properties[4] and effective photocatalysts[5,6,7,8]. Pure MgCr2O4 has been reported to have formed when an appropriate mixture of pure oxides is pressed into bars and sintered for several hours in an electric furnace at 1400 °C15 Some chromites, such as MgCr2O4, CuCr2O4, NiCr2O4, ZnCr2O4, and CoCr2O4, have been prepared using co-precipitation method, by the process of re-crystallization from pyridine followed by ignition in the temperature range of 700–1200 °C16.
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