Synthesis of mesoporous nanocrystalline MgAl2O4 spinel via surfactant assisted precipitation route

In this research, mesoporous nanocrystalline MgAl2O4 spinel powders were synthesized with a facile synthesis method by co-precipitation route using CTAB as surfactant. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption, thermal gravimetric and differential thermal analyses, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope. The effects of surfactant to metal molar ratio on the structural properties of the samples were investigated. The obtained results showed that the sample prepared without addition of surfactant presented a lower specific surface area and bigger crystallite size compared with those obtained for the samples prepared by CTAB/metal molar ratio of 0.3. The results showed that the sample prepared by CTAB/metal molar ratio of 0.3 has the highest specific surface area and the smallest crystallite size. Moreover, the CTAB/metal molar ratio higher than 0.3 led to a decrease in the specific surface area, due to destruction of the pore walls.