Synthesis of Nano Crystalline MgAl₂O₄ Spinel Powder by Microwave Assisted Combustion

Stoichiometric MgAl2O4 spinel nanoparticles were synthesized by microwave assisted combustion reaction from aluminium nitrate nanohydrate (Al(NO3)3·9H2O) and Sol-Gel prepared magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) in the presence of urea ((NH2)2CO) as a fuel, in about 20 min of irradiation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies reveal that mi- crowave assisted combustion synthesis route yields single-phase spinel nanoparticles with larger crystalline size (around 75 nm) than other conventional heating methods. Scanning electronic microscope (SEM) images show nanoparticles with spherical shape and homogenous morphology. The surface area measurements (SBET) show crystals with 2.11 m 2 /g and 0.0033 mL/g pore volume.