Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline LiNi0.5Co0.5VO4 powders by citric acid assisted sol–gel combustion process

Nanocrystalline LiNi0.5Co0.5VO4 powders were synthesized by sol–gel combustion process with metal nitrates, as the source of metal ions and citric acid, as a chelating agent. The effect of citric acid amount on the synthesis of nanocrystalline LiNi0.5Co0.5VO4 powders was investigated through TG/DTA, FTIR, XRD and SEM analysis. Thermal behavior of the dried gels was studied by TG/DTA thermograms. Structural coordination of as-prepared as well as calcined dried gels at different temperature was identified from FTIR results. Microstructure of the dried gels and synthesized LiNi0.5Co0.5VO4 powder was identified by SEM analysis. Organic free phase pure nanocrystalline LiNi0.5Co0.5VO4 powder was obtained from the calcined dried gels at 450 °C prepared with M/CA ratio of 1:1 and the crystallite size calculated using XRD peak broadening data was found to be 89 nm.