Chemical synthesis of nanocrystalline magnesium aluminate spinel via nitrate–citrate combustion route

Nanocrystalline magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4) was synthesized using metal nitrates, citric acid and ammonium solutions. The precursor and the calcined powders at different temperatures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), simultaneous thermal analysis (STA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The combustion mechanism was also studied by a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) which coupled to STA. The generated heat through the combustion of the mixture of ammonium nitrate and citrate based complexes decreased the synthesis temperature of MgAl2O4 spinel. The synthesized MgAl2O4 spinel at 900 °C has faced shape with crystallite size in the range of 18–24 nm.