Sesamum Indicum Plant Extracted Microwave Combustion Synthesis and Opto-Magnetic Properties of Spinel MnxCO1_xAl204 Nano-Catalysts
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Date
2015
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Abstract
Spinel Mn^Co,_^Al204 (x = 0, 0.3 and 0.5) nanoparticles were synthesized using Sesamum indicum
(S. indicum) plant extracted microwave-assisted combustion method. S. indicum plant extract simplifies
the process, provides an alternative process for a simple, economical and environment friendly
synthesis. The absence of surfactant/catalysts has led to a simple, cheap and fast method of synthesis
of spinel nanoparticles. The as-synthesized spinel nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray
diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, high resolution scanning electron
microscopy (HR-SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy
dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) surface area analysis, UV-Visible
diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and vibrating sample
magnetometer. The formation of spinel nanoparticles was confirmed by HR-SEM and HR-TEM
and their possible formation mechanisms were also proposed. Powder XRD, FT-IR, SAED and EDX
results confirmed the formation of pure and single cubic phase CoAIjO^ with well-defined crystalline.
The optical property was determined by DRS and PL spectra. VSM measurements revealed
that pure and Mn-doped CoAI^Oj samples have weak ferromagnetic behavior and the magnetization
values increases with increasing the concentration of Mn^' ions in the C0AI2O4 lattice. Sample
Mno 5CO0 5AI2O4 possesses a higher surface area, smaller crystallite size than other samples, which
led to enhance the performance toward the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol into benzaldehyde.