Preparation of ZnAl2O4 spinel directly from zinc aluminum layered double hydroxide precursor

Single-phase ZnAl2O4 spinel has been prepared by a novel simple route using layered double hydroxide as a precursor. ZnAl2O4 spinel is directly obtained by calcination of zinc aluminum layered double hydroxide (Zn/Al molar radio is 0.5) without further chemical treatment. The key feature of this method is that it affords uniform distribution of all metal cations on an atomic level in the precursor. The structural characteristics of the as-synthesized precursor and the resulted calcined products are obtained by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope.