Elaboration, characterization and first principle studies of MnCo₂O₄ nanomaterials prepared from non-standard raw materials

Moroccan non-standard materials are used for the first time to synthesize nanoparticles of Manganese Cobaltite Spinel Oxide (MnCo₂O₄) at low temperature by the molten salt technique. The products have been characterized to determine their chemical compositions, phases and morphologies. The x-ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns show the formation of a single-phase MnCo₂O₄ nanoparticles at three different temperatures with a particle size between 29 and 41 nm. Fourier Transform-Infrared spectra (FTIR) analysis confirms the formation of spinel MnCo₂O₄ without any bands of parasitic phases or impurities, and gives, in good agreement with the results of Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), ample information leading to the deduction of the cationic distribution of the products. Moreover, the majority of the elaborated nanoparticles have a polyhedral shape. First principal calculation results show that the inverse spinel structure with a ferrimagnetic ordering is the most stable configuration for MnCo₂O₄ which agrees with the experimental results. (paper)