Synthesis and Characterization of CuAl2O4 Spinel Nanostructures

Nanocrystalline copper aluminate powder was synthesized by a polyacrylamide gel method using aluminum nitrate, copper nitrate as precursor materials. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), UV-Vis spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (DTA TG) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Crystallized CuAl2O4 was initially observed after calcination at 500 °C and only peaks corresponding to CuAl2O4 spinel crystal were observed at 700 °C. The SEM results showed that the samples have layered morphology. These layered structures are made up of nano particles that are connected together. With increase of temperature, the layered structures are broken into smaller pieces. The results show that different calcination temperatures cause a variation in color.