PROJECT PN-II-RU-TE-2011-3-0024

Research project: Innovative solutions in the field of large surface area ceramic nanopowder preparation via combustion synthesis.

The purpose of the site is to present the progres and the results achieved within the research project no. 3-0024, PN-II-RU-TE-2011 competition.The project is financed by the Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding UEFISCDI. The registration number of the project financing contract is 18/05.10.2011.

The host institution is Universitatea Politehnica Timisoara.

Project summary

Preparation of ceramic powders with controlled properties under more advantageous conditions is a real challenge for the field of ceramics. One of the recently developed synthesis methods is the solution combustion synthesis, which in some cases yields the designed crystalline compounds directly from the combustion reaction, no further annealing being necessary. However, the literature data rapports that in the case of BaAl₂O₄, Al₂TiO₅, ZnAl₂O₄, LaAlO₃ or YAlO₃, which have very important applications, the initial version of the combustion method does not lead to satisfying results. Often, the reaction products are amorphous and/or contain residual carbon. Therefore, the formation of the desired phase may be achieved only after a subsequent annealing, which leads to grain growth and low surface area powder. In this context, this project suggests several innovative solutions which will optimize the combustion method, thus allowing the preparation of nanocrystalline compounds of practical interest, with large surface area. These solutions are: the use of new organic fuels; the use of fuel mixtures; the removal of residual carbon by hydrogen peroxide chemical oxidation; the use of passive retarding salt additions; the use of metal nitrate/fuel molar ratios with fuel excess. Given the novelty of the suggested solutions, one may expect the project will have a high impact and will lead to remarkable scientific and economical results in terms of sustainable development.

Objective 0. 01.10.2011 – 30.09.2014, management and communication: Conducting the public procurement procedures. / Preparation of intermediate and final progress reports. / Monitoring and internal control of the project implementation process. / Results processing and elaboration of scientific materials (articles, OSIM patent application, posters, presentations). / Results dissemination and attending international conferences. / Creating and updating a project web site.

Objective 1. 01.10.2011 – 30.04.2012, increasing the surface area of ZnAl₂O₄ powders by removing the residual carbon via H₂O₂ oxidation: elaboration of a literature review in the field of ZnAl₂O₄ preparation. / Combustion synthesis of ZnAl₂O₄using an excess of triethylenetetramine. / Carbon removal by H₂O₂ oxidation. / The influence of a moderator aid - Zn(CH₃COO)₂ - on the ZnAl₂O₄ characteristics. / Sample characterization (TG-DTA, XRD, S_BET, FT-IR, SEM).

Objective 2. 01.05.2012 – 31.12.2012, combustion synthesis of nanocrystalline BaAl₂O₄ powders, with large surface area,using new organic fuels: Preparation of BaAl₂O₄ powders using new organic fuels and fuel mixtures. / The influence of fuel mixture composition on the BaAl₂O₄ characteristics. / Combustion synthesis of phosphor materials by doping BaAl₂O₄ with rare-earth cations (Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺). / Sample characterization (TG-DTA, XRD, FT-IR, UV-VIS, S_BET, SEM).

Objective 3. 01.01.2013 – 30.06.2013, the influence of passive retarding (moderator) salt additions on the combustion synthesized LaAlO₃ powders: Selection of the optimum fuels for La(NO₃)₃ and Al(NO₃)₃. / LaAlO₃ synthesis using the innovative fuel mixture approach. / The influence of various salt additions (LiCl, NaCl, KCl) on the LaAlO₃ characteristics. / Sintering behavior of LaAlO₃ powders. / Sample characterization (TG-DTA, XRD, FT-IR, S_BET, SEM).

Objective 4. 01.07.2013 – 31.12.2013, the use of fuel mixtures in the solution combustion synthesis of YAlO₃ powders: Selection of the optimum fuels for Y(NO₃)₃ and Al(NO₃)₃ based on individual testing of new fuels: valine, acrylamide, arginine, etc. / Solution combustion synthesis of YAlO₃ nanopowders using fuel mixtures, elaborated based on our previous results. / Sintering behavior of YAlO₃ powders. / Sample characterization (TG-DTA, XRD, S_BET, FT-IR, SEM).

Objective 5. 01.01.2014 – 30.09.2014, combustion synthesis of pure and doped Al₂TiO₅ powders: Combustion synthesis of Al₂TiO₅ using new fuels (acrylamide, valine, arginine) and fuel mixtures, respectively. / The role of fuel amount in the Al₂TiO₅ preparation. / Synthesis of Al₂TiO₅ based solid solutions, by doping with different transition metal cations (Co²⁺, Cr³⁺). / Testing and sample characterization (TG-DTA, XRD, S_BET, FT-IR, UV-VIS, CIEL*a*b*, SEM).

Politehnica University Timisoara,
Faculty of Industrial Chemistry and Environmental Engineering
P-ta Victoriei No.2, Timisoara 300006,
Tel. 0040-256-404167
Fax 0040-256-403060

robert.ianos@upt.ro, robert_ianos@yahoo.com, radu.lazau@upt.ro