Preparation and Characterization of Chromium-Based Chalcospinel Materials

Abstract

The goal of this thesis was to synthesize and characterize nanoparticles of the chalcogenide spinels CdCr2S4, CuCr2S4, and FeCr2S4 via a precursor method. In this thesis, I have synthesized dithiocarbamate precursors of the metals cadmium, chromium, copper, and iron, as well as evaluated the thermal properties of the precursors. Finally, the solid state thermolysis products of Cd-Cr-S, Cu-Cr-S, and Fe-Cr-S under both sealed-tube and nanoparticle conditions were characterized by X-ray diffraction and Superconducting Quantum Interference Device magnetometry.