Open Access Conference Proceedings

Self-combustion synthesis (SCS), a method of production of fine ceramic particles by burning suitable metallic precursors with organic fuel in a presence of an oxidizing agent, is an easy to use, high yield method, that, when mastered, can lead to production of significant amounts of nanoparticles with tuned properties and morphology. The method was used to prepare fine particles of iron oxide, cerium oxide, praseodymium oxide and various other lanthanide oxides with different organic fuels, including glycine, citric acid, ethylene glycol, urea and starch. As metallic precursors, nitrates and organic complex compounds were used. In summary, all particles produced by self-combustion synthesis form, apart from separated nanoparticles, slightly larger agglomerates with dimensions of up several micrometers. The nano-sized grains, however still remain apparent. Further experiments were also made with electrospinning the precursors into nanofibers with carrier polymer prior to calcination, so those would preserve the morphology during the process. Electron microscope pictures show, that by using nitrates as precursors, the resulting oxidic fibers retain a smooth surface, while the use of organic complex compounds yields highly porous structures, some of which retain the general fibrous structure, depending on the carrier polymer and rate of heating. A formation of porous structures was generally observed for most of the organic complexes and fuels.

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