Nanosize Mn3O4 (Hausmannite) by microwave irradiation method

The present investigation reports, the novel synthesis of nanosize Mn3O4 powder with nanorods using microwaves and its physicochemical characterization. The nanosize Mn3O4 powder has been prepared using manganese nitrate as a precursor and effect of ethanolamine and ethylenediamine on particle morphology has been studied. The microwave irradiation has been carried out in the range 50–500 W and it was observed that formation of Mn3O4 takes place at 50 W. TEM analysis demonstrated nanosize Mn3O4 powder and nanorods with an average diameter of about 10 nm. The structural study by XRD indicates that these nano-powders have pure tetragonal phase. The phase pure samples were characterized using X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) for both Mn 2p and Mn 3s levels. The values of binding energies are consistent with the relative values reported in the literature. The metallic impurity levels have been characterized using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrophotometer (ICP-OES).