Effects of high energy ball-milling on nanosized Cu0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 powders were studied at 30 and 330 min
of milling. The powders were initially synthesized from its stoichiometric metal nitrates and urea
mixtures, using a microwave assisted combustion method. Ball-milling induced electromechanical reaction
was examined by XRD, TEM, Mossbauer spectroscopy, magnetization, and catalytic performance €
by exploring potential changes in size, phases and chemical structure. Before Milling, the as-prepared
powders were comprised of small grains of poor spinel crystallinity and very small crystallite size,
and a minor a-Fe2O3 phase. Progressive milling significantly reduced the grain size, increased chemical
disorder, and reduced the hematite phase. These changes are also manifested in the magnetization
measurements. The Catalytic activity performance was carried out using dehydrogenation of isopropyl
alcohol. The observed activity was correlated to the presence of Cu2þ and Fe3þ catalysts at octahedral
sites before and after milling.
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