Synthesis of hercynite FeAl2O4 via sucrose process

The materials with spinel structures are important for their unique structural and physical properties. In the current research, nanocrystalline hercynite was synthesized using metal nitrates and a polymer matrix precursor composed of sucrose and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) via sol-gel process. The gel was dried and then the precursor was preheated at1000oC in the air atmosphere and then calcined at different temperatures in the reducing atmosphere in the graphite bed. The preheated and calcined powders were characterized using simultaneous thermal analysis,X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy(SEM). Results showed that fully crystalline hercynite was detected in the sample calcined at 900oC. The crystal size of hercynite was different at each calcination temperature, ranging from 30 to100nm.VSM analysis indicated that hercynite is a paramagnetic material.