Synthesis and Rietveld Refinement of MgO Nanoparticles

Magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles were synthesized using nitrate-citrate sol-gel route and the sample yield was annealed at 300 degrees C, 450 degrees C and 700 degrees C for getting size distribution. Structural characterization was done by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. Rietveld profile refinement of XRD patterns confirmed formation of single phase MgO nanoparticles in the NaCl type fcc structure without any impurity within the detection limit. Annealing of the MgO nanoparticles up to 700 degrees C does not disturb the fcc structure. The average crystallite size slightly increases when the annealing temperature was increased from 300 degrees C to 450 degrees C, while further increase in the annealing temperature to 700 C leads to a swift increment in the particle size and drastic decrease in the lattice strain and better crystallinity of MgO.