Synthesis and Characterization of Alumina/Iron Oxide Mixed Nanocomposite

Abstract

The Aluminium & Iron oxides mixed nanocomposites have been prepared by hydrothermal as well as combustion synthesis process. The resulting composite has been characterized by using the XRD, FE-SEM, FT-IR, and BET analytical techniques. From X –ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, it is clearly observed that the composite synthesized by hydrothermal method has α-Fe2O3 and y-AlO(OH) crystalline phase where as α-Fe2O3 and α–Al2O3 phase has been found in combustion synthetic method. The FE-SEM analysis indicates that the formation of needle shaped particles for hydrothermal synthesis where as the porous & flake like morphology is found in case of combustion synthesis. The SEM-EDAX (Elemental detection x-ray analysis) results suggest the presence of Al, Fe & O elements in the alumina/iron oxide mixed composites. The FT-IR analysis indicates the formation of α-Fe2O3 and y-AlO(OH) in hydrothermal synthesis. The BET study suggests that the mixed composites synthesized by hydrothermal method are nonporous in nature and the surface area is found to be 35 m2/gm. The results of combustion synthesis illustrate that the fuel to oxidizer ratio is the most effective factor for the formation & surface morphology of mixed nanocomposite.