Precursor method—A nonconventional route for the synthesis of ZnCr2O4 spinel

Zinc chromites (ZnCr 2 O 4 ) have been synthesized via thermal decomposition of (NH 4 ) 2 [ZnCr 2 (C 4 O 6 H 4 ) 4 (OH) 2 ]∙9H 2 O and (NH 4 ) 3 [ZnCr 2 (C 6 O 7 H 11 ) 4 (OH) 7 ]∙H 2 O precursors. The complex precursors have been characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). ZnCr 2 O 4 samples have been investigated and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) and photolumininescence (PL) spectroscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) N 2 adsorption–desorption analyses. Nanoscaled (∼60 nm) single-phase zinc chromites were obtained by heating the precursors at 900 °C for 1 h. The influence of thermal treatment of tartarate precursor on structural, morphological and textural properties of ZnCr 2 O 4 is discussed.