Here we studied the mechanically-assisted synthesis of mixed nickel-copper oxides at the temperature range of 600–10000C. Nickel and copper oxalates have been used as starting materials and the mechanical treatment has been prolonged up to 5 h using planetary ball mill. The XRD analysis shows formation of NiO‒CuO and CuO‒NiO solid solutions. As a result, the lattice parameter of the cubic bunsenite (NiO) increases due to the bigger ion radii of Cu2+. The changes of parameters of the monoclinic tenorite (CuO) have also been registered. It was found that the formation of solid solutions is favoured by the intense mechanical treatment of reagents and the rise of the synthesis temperatures. An anomalous change of the lattice parameters of CuO obtained from mechanically untreated precursors is observed at 10000C which is not detected in tenorite, obtained by mechanically-assisted synthesis.
Key words: nickel oxide, copper oxide, mechanically assisted synthesis
Topic: CHEMISTRY