Preparation of delafossite CuFeO2 coral-like powder using a self-combustion glycine nitrate process

This study employed a glycine nitrate process to prepare porous, stoichiometric, homogeneous CuFeO2 powders without post-annealing treatment or ambient control. In this method, a precursor solution was prepared by mixing glycine with an aqueous solution of blended (Cu–Fe) metal–nitrates in their stoichiometric ratios. The glycine-mixed precursor solution was first heated in a beaker to evaporate excess water and form a viscous, bluish, and semi-transparent gel. The beaker was then covered with a metallic mesh, and the temperature increased slowly to 250 °C to auto-ignite the material. The combustion was self-sustaining and extremely rapid, producing gray powders. The powders showed a large surface area of 11.38 m2/g, as determined according to BET surface area measurements. SEM observations of these powders confirmed their coral-like traits and porous structures.