Partic. vol. 24 pp. 108-112 (February 2016)
doi: 10.1016/j.partic.2015.03.005

Effect of glycine–starch mixing ratio on the structural characteristics of MgAl₂O₄ nano-particles synthesized by sol–gel combustion

Arash Motevalian, Shiva Salem^*

s.salem@che.uut.ac.ir

Abstract

Sol–gel auto-ignition was used to prepare nano-scale magnesium aluminate spinel, using nitrate salts as an oxidizer and glycine–starch mixtures as the fuel. The glycine–starch mixture was varied to understand the effect of fuel mixing ratio on the structural characteristics of the resulting magnesium aluminate. The products were characterized by thermogravimetric-differential thermal analyses, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area measurements, and transmission electron microscopy. The phase purity and crystallite size of the powder products depended on the fuel mixing ratio. The presence of starch in the fuel facilitated the preparation of pure nano-particles. To prepare nano-particles of uniform spherical morphology and diameter of <13 nm, the starch content should be optimized to avoid agglomeration.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

MgAlMgAl₂O₄; Starch; Sol–gel; Combustion; Nano-particle; Agglomeration