PECHINI SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF Eu3+ DOPED ZnCo2O4 SPINELS

Abstract

Spinel oxides with the composition ZnCo2O4 and ZnCo2O4:Eu3+ have been synthesized by the Pechini method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy. IR spectroscopy revealed the presence of n1 and n2 bands, typical of spinel structures. The formation of monophase cubic spinel structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction patterns. Extra lines corresponding to other phase has been observed in the powders calcined at 900 ºC. The results showed the extremely lower synthesis temperature than those presents in conventional methods.