Rapid synthesis and characterization of mesoporous nanocrystalline MgAl2O4 via flash pyrolysis route

In this work, we demonstrate an effective, fast and low-cost route for the synthesis of mesoporous MgAl2O4 powder. This synthesis procedure successfully reduces the overall synthesis time for nanosized MgAl2O4 powder from days to a few hours. The as-synthesized powder was found to be amorphous in nature. Upon calcination at 700 °C (2 h) and 900 °C (4 h) in presence of air, the as-synthesized MgAl2O4 amorphous powder was transformed into a disorder and order nanocrystalline phase respectively. The structural information of evolvement phase was analyzed through Rietveld refinement technique and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The specific surface area of MgAl2O4 powder calcined at 700 °C and 900 °C was found to be 118.14 m2/g and 74.67 m2/g, respectively.