Effect of the Fuels Glycine, Urea and Citric Acid on Synthesis of the Ceramic Pigment ZnCr2O4 by Solution Combustion

In this study, ceramic nanopigment ZnCr2O4 was prepared by solution combustion using glycine, urea and citric acid as fuels. The objective is to study the influence of fuel on the morphology and the diffuse reflectance spectrum. The nanoparticles were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), the phase was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), the thermal behavior was studied by thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and differential scanning microscopy (DSC), the color was determined by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and CIE L*a*b* colorimetric analysis. The average crystallite sizes obtained were 18.40 nm, 42.05 nm, and 18.69 nm when are used glycine, urea, and citric acid, respectively. Finally, the effect of fuel in the diffuse reflectance showed that the scattering of the light by the particles depend of the morphology. Also, the nanopigment was obtained by solution combustion at lower temperature than solid state reaction and it could be used in digital decoration.