Inverse Co-precipitation Synthesis of Copper Chromite Nanoparticles

  In this study, copper chromite (CuCr2O4) nanoparticles was prepared by inverse co-precipitation method. In this method, cupric nitrate trihydrate, (Cu (NO3)2.3H2O) and chromium nitrate nonahydrate, (Cr (NO3) 3.9H2O) with a mole ratio of 1:2 were used. Characterization of CuCr2O4 nanoparticles was performed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD), Thermo-Gravimetric/Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TG-DSC), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM). The results show that CuCr2O4 crystal can be obtained at temperature 520 °C. Also, phase structure of the CuCr2O4 depends on both Cu:Cr molar ratio and temperature in the starting reactants. Based on this method and under optimum conditions, the temperature for calcination (520 oC), the crystallite size of nanoparticles (18 nm), the spherical structure particles (30 to 70 nm) were obtained.