Sol-gel synthesis and structural characterization of nanocomposite powder: NiAl2O4:SiO2

Nanocomposite of NiAl2O4/SiO2 (NAS) was prepared through insitu solgel reaction, in which NiAl2O4 nanocrystals were dispersed in the silica glassy matrix. The prepared dried NAS gel, at 338 K, was heat treated to different temperature and identified the temperature range (1083 – 1163 K) of the nanocomposite formation through XRD patterns. From XRD patterns, crystallite size of NiAl2O4 particles dispersed in the silica matrix was calculated using Scherrer’s equation and size of the crystallites is found to be ≈ 8 nm. The structure and thermal behavior of NAS nanocomposite was identified respectively through FTIR and DSC measurements.