Low-temperature synthesis of mesoporous nanocrystalline magnesium aluminate (MgAl2O4) spinel with high surface area using a novel modified sol-gel method

Abstract

A simple, template-free and scalable modified sol-gel route was developed for the synthesis of mesoporous flake-like magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4) at low temperature (700 °C) with high surface area (281 m2 g−1). The obtained spinel materials were characterized by means of physicochemical techniques including X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis. The propylene oxide was used as gelation and pore forming agent in the sol-gel process. Different morphologies and sizes of flake were generated by the..