Effects of Different Precursors on Particle Size and Optical–Magnetic Properties of ZnCr2O4 Nanoparticles Prepared by Microwave-Assisted Method

Abstract

Zinc chromite (ZnCr2O4)-based nanoparticles have various exceptional properties that make them suitable for use in a variety of fields, including chemistry, medicine, energy, the environment, industry, and information. In this work, nanocrystalline ZnCr2O4 has been effectively synthesized with a distinct fuel by microwave-assisted solution combustion method. The XRD results reveal a single-phase high pure formation of nanoscale ZnCr2O4. The ZnCr2O4 samples are further characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The results reveal that modifying the fuel precursors in the combustion technique played an impact on the particle size, bandgap energy, magnetic properties, and reaction time of the ZnCr2O4 preparation. The average particle size of the various samples ranged from 18.6 to 13.9 nm with various fuels. The significance of this study is the tuning effect of optical and magnetic properties of ZnCr2O4 by using various fuel precursors.