Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters) ›› 2015, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (3): 367-372.DOI: 10.1007/s40195-015-0207-y

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Mechanochemical Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocrystalline Copper-Cobalt Ferrites

Nikolay Velinov1(), Dimitar Dimitrov2, Kremena Koleva1, Krassimir Ivanov2, Ivan Mitov1   

  1. 1 Institute of Catalysis, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., bl. 11, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
    2 Department of Chemistry, Agricultural University, 12 Mendeleev Str., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
  • Received:2014-05-13 Revised:2014-08-24 Online:2015-01-13 Published:2015-07-23

Abstract:

Nanocrystalline copper-cobalt ferrites with composition Cu1-x Co x Fe2O4, where x = 0.2 and 0.8, were synthesized by mechanochemical treatment of co-precipitated precursors. The ferrite powders were characterized by XRD and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Results proved obtaining of spinel ferrites with crystallite size smaller than 10 nm. Increasing of crystallite size of samples with increasing of mechanochemical treatment duration was established, too. Catalytic properties of obtained ferrites were tested in reactions of oxidation of CO, methanol and dimethyl ether. High catalytic activity of nanocrystalline copper-cobalt ferrites toward CO and CH3OH (about 100% conversions of CO and CH3OH at 160 °C) and moderate activity toward (CH3)2O oxidation were established. The results obtained revealed that the Co/Cu atomic ratio is an important factor determinant the behavior of catalysts toward methanol and DME oxidation.

Key words: Mechanochemical synthesis, Nanocrystalline, Ferrites, Mössbauer spectroscopy, Catalysis