X-RAY, TRANSPORT, MAGNETIC AND CATALYTIC STUDIES OF THE SYSTEM CD1-XCUXFECRO4

The compounds of the system Cd1-xCuxFeCrO4, where 0.0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 1.0, synthesized by the coprecipitation technique have been studied with a view to investigating the cation distribution and the transport and magnetic properties, and to correlating the physical properties of oxidic spinels with their catalytic behaviour in the decomposition of benzyl alcohol. All the compounds of the system were crystallized with the cubic-spinel structure. The activation-energy values of electronic conduction varied between 0.69 and 0.16 eV. Thermoelectric power measurements indicated a p-type semiconducting nature for all the compounds. Magnetic hysteresis studies indicated that the compounds with x greater than or equal to 0.4 were ferrimagnetic. The Curie temperatures increased with increases in the Cu2+-ion concentration. A good correlation could be established between the physical properties and the catalytic behaviour of the system.