Synthesis and characterization of ZnGa₂O₄ particles prepared by solid state reaction

We employed solid state reaction technique to synthesize ZnGa ₂O₄ particles, produced in steps of mixing/milling the ingredients in H₂O following thermal treating under 1200 °C. We compare spinel and partially inverse spinel structure in ZnGa₂O ₄ particles using Rietveld refinement. Crystal structure of ZnGa ₂O₄ particles was identified with two structural phases; normal spinel structure and partially inverse spinel structure using Rietveld refinement. It is found that the partially inverse spinel structures occupy nearly 13% and the rest is normal spinel structure. The obtained X-ray diffraction data show that lattice constant and the position of Oxygen atoms remain almost constant in both structures. The characterization of the particles was also improved using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy measurements. The optical analyses were done with UV-visible spectroscopy. The band gap, calculated from climate point of UV-visible data, was found as 4.6 ± 0.1 eV. Despite no unexpected compound (such as ZnO and Ga₂O₃) in the structure, the optical analyses were shown defective ZnO structure in ZnGa₂O ₄.