Coprecipitation of copper/zinc compounds in metal salt–urea–water system

A study of composite and structural changes of particles prepared by coprecipitation in solutions of Cu2+ and Zn2+ salts at different starting molar ratios of the corresponding metal nitrates (4:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:4) in the presence of urea is described. The effects of the initial concentration ratios and the ageing time on the final product were discussed in some detail. The final solids were characterized by SEM–EDS, XRD. On ageing at 85 °C, the change from initially amorphous particles to crystalline structure takes place and the results depend on the metal ratio used.