In situ insights from non-equilibrium solution combustion synthesis : From semiconducting thin films to metallic nanostructures
(2026) In Chem- Abstract
Solution combustion synthesis (SCS) is a rapid and scalable synthetic pathway for producing metallic and oxide nanoparticles and thin films, resulting from the exothermic combustion between a metal cation, chelating organic fuel, and an oxidant. However, understanding the divergence in SCS between thin-film and unconfined bulk combustion, as well as in situ experiments probing the reaction progression, remains limited. Here, we leverage X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), along with other X-ray- and electron-based characterizations, to explore the interplay between precursor chemistry and combustion geometry (thin film versus bulk powder) in yielding a range of nickel-based oxide, metallic, and complex carbide/metallic structures, with... (More)
Solution combustion synthesis (SCS) is a rapid and scalable synthetic pathway for producing metallic and oxide nanoparticles and thin films, resulting from the exothermic combustion between a metal cation, chelating organic fuel, and an oxidant. However, understanding the divergence in SCS between thin-film and unconfined bulk combustion, as well as in situ experiments probing the reaction progression, remains limited. Here, we leverage X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), along with other X-ray- and electron-based characterizations, to explore the interplay between precursor chemistry and combustion geometry (thin film versus bulk powder) in yielding a range of nickel-based oxide, metallic, and complex carbide/metallic structures, with generalizability to other transition metals. We develop a fundamental understanding of the effect of precursor stoichiometries on the reaction products attainable using SCS. Using shallow-angle in situ XAS, we then measure the kinetics and activation energies for thin-film conversion via combustion synthesis.
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- author
- Colburn, Thomas W.
; Carbone, Abigail
; Just, Justus
LU
; Bindon, Sarah
; Wainer, Ryan
; Miller, Robert D.
and Dauskardt, Reinhold H.
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- in press
- subject
- keywords
- combustion kinetics, metal oxides, metallic catalysts, nickel oxide, perovskite solar cells, solution combustion synthesis, thin-film manufacturing, thin-film semiconductors, transparent conducting oxides, X-ray absorption spectroscopy
- in
- Chem
- article number
- 102943
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105032877942
- ISSN
- 2451-9308
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.chempr.2026.102943
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2026 Elsevier Inc.
- id
- fbec0257-98c3-4e86-9757-4c34f021a1a1
- date added to LUP
- 2026-05-07 13:17:19
- date last changed
- 2026-05-07 13:18:27
@article{fbec0257-98c3-4e86-9757-4c34f021a1a1,
abstract = {{<p>Solution combustion synthesis (SCS) is a rapid and scalable synthetic pathway for producing metallic and oxide nanoparticles and thin films, resulting from the exothermic combustion between a metal cation, chelating organic fuel, and an oxidant. However, understanding the divergence in SCS between thin-film and unconfined bulk combustion, as well as in situ experiments probing the reaction progression, remains limited. Here, we leverage X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), along with other X-ray- and electron-based characterizations, to explore the interplay between precursor chemistry and combustion geometry (thin film versus bulk powder) in yielding a range of nickel-based oxide, metallic, and complex carbide/metallic structures, with generalizability to other transition metals. We develop a fundamental understanding of the effect of precursor stoichiometries on the reaction products attainable using SCS. Using shallow-angle in situ XAS, we then measure the kinetics and activation energies for thin-film conversion via combustion synthesis.</p>}},
author = {{Colburn, Thomas W. and Carbone, Abigail and Just, Justus and Bindon, Sarah and Wainer, Ryan and Miller, Robert D. and Dauskardt, Reinhold H.}},
issn = {{2451-9308}},
keywords = {{combustion kinetics; metal oxides; metallic catalysts; nickel oxide; perovskite solar cells; solution combustion synthesis; thin-film manufacturing; thin-film semiconductors; transparent conducting oxides; X-ray absorption spectroscopy}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Chem}},
title = {{In situ insights from non-equilibrium solution combustion synthesis : From semiconducting thin films to metallic nanostructures}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2026.102943}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.chempr.2026.102943}},
year = {{2026}},
}