SYNTHESIS OF DOUBLE OXIDES HAVING SPINEL STRUCTURE (ZNAL2O4, ZNGA2O4) BY THE GLYCOTHERMAL METHOD

Reaction of zinc acetate with aluminum isopropoxide (or gallium acetylacetonate) in 1,4-butanediol at 300-degrees-C under the spontaneous vapor pressure of the glycol (glycothermal reaction) yielded single-phase zinc aluminate, ZnAl2O4, (or zinc gallate, ZnGa2O4), having a spinel structure. The product had a high surface area, 290 m2/g, and the TEM observation showed the product was comprised of agglomerates of fine particles (diameter, ca. 5 nm). Thus-obtained zinc aluminate maintained its large surface area at relatively high temperatures (up to 700-degrees-C), and therefore, it has potential use for catalyst materials.