A comparative study of structural, magnetic, and thermal properties of Cu_xFe_3-xO₄ nanoparticles prepared in open and closed systems using solution combustion synthesis

The Cu_xFe_3-xO₄ nanoparticles with a cubic structure and varying ratios of copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) (x = 0.75, 1, 1.25) were synthesized using the one-step solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method. Cu_xFe_3-xO₄ nanoparticles were synthesized via solution combustion synthesis, utilizing copper nitrate and iron nitrate as the oxidizing agents, and glycine as the fuel. The synthesis was carried out under different conditions, including the presence and absence of air, to investigate their effects on the final product. X-ray diffraction (XRD), the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry analysis (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution (HR) TEM and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements were used to confirm the formation and structure of the as-prepared nanopowders. The use of the open system during the synthesis process leads to a higher occurrence of secondary phase formation in the structure of the material. The findings obtained from various analysis confirms that the closed system used in the study yields efficient results.