Solution-Combustion Synthesis of 4CuO/Al 2 O 3 Composite from Starting Solutions Containing Copper Acetate as Ballast

The effect of copper acetate addition to an aqueous solution of aluminum nitrate and glycine on the solution-combustion synthesis (SCS) of 4CuO/Al 2 O 3 nanocomposites was investigated by XRD, SEM, and DTA methods. The presence of copper acetate in starting solution favored the complete conversion of NO 2 to N 2 at off-stoichiometric glycine contents (φ < 1). The replacement of copper nitrate with copper acetate was found to give a 2-fold decrease in combustion temperature, which markedly raised the yield of target fine powder. Synthesized composites represented a mixture of amorphous γ-Al 2 O 3 and crystalline CuO, Cu 2 O, and Cu. Upon annealing at 800–850°C, the formation of CuAl 2 O 4 spinel was observed.