Low cost synthesis route of spinel ZnAl2O4

In this work, zinc aluminate nanopowder was synthesized by chemical combustion route within a small span of time using the commercially purchased zinc chloride and aluminum nitrate powder. The as synthesized nano powders obtained from chemical method was calcined at 800 degrees C. The single phase formation with a cubic spinel structure was confirmed from X-ray diffraction pattern. The average crystallite size calculated from intense X-ray diffraction peak using Scherer's equation and Williamson-Hall equation are in the order of nanometer scale. The energy band gap was determined from UV-Visible spectroscopy to have the knowledge of variation of optical properties of nanocrystalline zinc aluminate than that of bulk zinc aluminate. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.