Influence of spectator ions on the reactivity of divalent metal salts in molten alkali metal nitrates: Morphology of the resulting metal oxides

This work focuses on the investigation of the reaction of alkali metal nitrates (LiNO3, NaNO3 and KNO3) with divalent metal salts (Cu2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to study the kinetics and mechanisms of the above reactions, which led to the formation of the corresponding metal oxides. The reaction temperature was found to depend not only on the alkali metal but also on the metal salt (MCl2 or M(NO3)2) involved in the reaction. servations show that the spectator ions present in the reacting medium have varying degrees of influence on the morphology of the powder; the growth directions, sizes and the homogeneity of their distribution, are modified. KNO3 generates the most significant differences compared to LiNO3 and NaNO3.