(180b) Solution Combustion Synthesis of Advanced Materials: Principles and Applications

We have developed solution combustion synthesis (SCS), a novel one-step technique for the preparation of nanostructured complex metal oxides.  It involves mixing of metal nitrates (in stoichiometric proportions) and fuel, their dissolution in water, followed by heating and self-combustion to yield homogeneous metal oxide powder. The powders are then calcined to yield pure complex metal oxide phase. In SCS, homogenous mixing ensures controlled composition and oxidation state of the product, which is typically of nanoscale dimension, hence with high surface area. We have utilized the SCS technique to synthesize novel materials for a variety of contemporary applications, including catalysts for fuel reforming, anode catalysts for fuel cells, oxygen carriers for chemical looping combustion and catalysts for oxidative coupling of methane (OCM).  

In this talk, the basic ideas of the SCS technique are presented first.  This is followed by some of our key results for various applications.  Some promising directions for the future are also indicated.