In this study, the fabrication of ZnAl2O4/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites is reported for the initial time. Two nanocomposites, ZnAl2O4/reduced graphene oxide‐50 and ZnAl2O4/reduced graphene oxide‐100, with different reduced graphene oxide contents (50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml initial graphene oxide concentration respectively) were synthesized via a hydrothermal route; and characterized with the aid of suitable characterization and analytical techniques. For comparative purposes, two pure ZnAl2O4 samples were fabricated by citrate sol‐gel and urea combustion methods. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized pure nanospinels and nanocomposites was studied for the degradation of rhodamine B dye under ultraviolet–A light irradiation. Compared to pure ZnAl2O4 nanoparticles, ZnAl2O4/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites exhibited superior photocatalytic activity. The highest efficiency was observed for ZnAl2O4/reduced graphene oxide‐100 composite, where; full degradation of rhodamine B occurred after 45 min. The enhancements of the photocatalytic performance of ZnAl2O4/reduced graphene oxide composites were mainly attributed to unique electronic and surface properties of reduced graphene oxide.
Spinel-type MgAl 2 O 4 nanoparticles with high surface area were synthesized by thermal decomposition of three different ion-pair complexes precursors, including [Mg(H 2 O) 6 ][Al(dipic) 2 ] 2 •6H 2 O, [Al(sal) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] 2 [Mg(dipic) 2 ] and [Mg(H 2 O) 6 ][Al(ox) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] 2 •5H 2 O. Influence of the inorganic precursor was investigated on synthesis and textural properties of magnesium aluminate nanopowders. The precursors [Mg(H 2 O) 6 ] [Al(dipic) 2 ] 2 •6H 2 O and [Al(sal) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] 2 [Mg(dipic) 2 ] displayed pure spinel-type MgAl 2 O 4 , while the sample synthesized by [Mg(H 2 O) 6 ][Al(ox) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] 2 •5H 2 O precursor consisted of MgAl 2 O 4 and MgO. The MgAl 2 O 4 synthesized via [Al(sal) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] 2 [Mg(dipic) 2 ] precursor exhibited higher BET specific surface area (226.7 m 2 g −1) and smaller particle size than those of the samples obtained from the two other precursors.
The paper presents an investigation on the influence of the production method upon crystallite and particle size, surface area and morphology of La2Zr2O7 pyrochlore. Mesoporous La2Zr2O7 nanopowders were synthesized by thermal decomposition of [Zr(sal)3(H2O)2][La(dipic)2(H2O)3]⋅3(H2O), (dipic = 2,6‐pyridinedicarboxylate, sal = salicylate), ion‐pair complex precursor as a new method. For comparative purposes, two other samples were fabricated by co‐precipitation and citrate sol‐gel methods. The ion‐pair complex precursor technique displays the low degree agglomeration, the smallest crystallite size (8.6 nm) and the highest surface area (119.20 m2/g) and total pore value (0.13 cc/g), in comparison with two other conventional methods which are related to the influence of the fabrication method. The high structural stability of the complex precursor prevents the rapid growth of particles during the calcination process and thus improves the textural properties.
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