Effects of Different Precursors on Particle Size and Optical–Magnetic Properties of ZnCr2O4 Nanoparticles Prepared by Microwave-Assisted Method.

Zinc chromite (ZnCr₂O₄)-based nanoparticles have various exceptional properties that make them suitable for use in a variety of fields, including chemistry, medicine, energy, the environment, industry, and information. In this work, nanocrystalline ZnCr₂O₄ has been effectively synthesized with a distinct fuel by microwave-assisted solution combustion method. The XRD results reveal a single-phase high pure formation of nanoscale ZnCr₂O₄. The ZnCr₂O₄ samples are further characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The results reveal that modifying the fuel precursors in the combustion technique played an impact on the particle size, bandgap energy, magnetic properties, and reaction time of the ZnCr₂O₄ preparation. The average particle size of the various samples ranged from 18.6 to 13.9 nm with various fuels. The significance of this study is the tuning effect of optical and magnetic properties of ZnCr₂O₄ by using various fuel precursors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]