Synthesis of manganese spinel nanoparticles at room temperature by coprecipitation

This paper is focused on a new route to synthesize Mn3O4 nanoparticles by alkalisation by sodium hydroxide on a manganeous solution at room temperature. The precipitates obtained at different pH values have been characterized by XRD and TEM. Since the first addition of sodium hydroxide, a white Mn(OH)2 precipitate appears. At pH=7, γ-MnOOH phase is predominant with needle like shaped particles. At pH=10, hausmanite nanoparticles, which exhibits well defined cubic shape in the range 50–120 nm are obtained. This new precipitation route is a fast and easy environmentally friendly process to obtain well crystallized hausmanite nanoparticles.

Graphical abstractTEM image showing Mn3O4 particles after a precipitation at pH=10 .Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► A new route to synthesize Mn3O4 nanoparticles has been demonstrated. ► Synthesis has been performed by precipitation at room temperature. ► The size of the Mn3O4 nanoparticles is between 50 and 120 nm.