Thermal and structural strength of MgO and CuO nanoparticles for advanced diesel fuel applications

Abstract

The development of high-performance and environmentally sustainable diesel additives has driven significant interest in metal oxide nanoparticles, particularly magnesium oxide (MgO) and copper oxide (CuO), due to their exceptional physicochemical properties. This study presents an investigation into the thermal and structural strength of MgO and CuO nanoparticles to evaluate their potential as next-generation diesel fuel additives. The MgO nanoparticles were synthesized using sol-gel method while CuO nanoparticles were biosynthesized using orange peel extract. The nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized via UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and  thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). XRD results revealed highly crystalline structures with average crystallite sizes of 18.24 nm for MgO nanoparticles and 17.65 nm for CuO nanoparticles, while Raman spectra confirmed the successful  formation of metal–oxygen frameworks with minimal structural impurities. TGA indicates that MgO nanoparticles exhibited superior thermal stability over CuO nanoparticles. This practically implies that the synthesized MgO and CuO nanoparticles possess properties that  an boost catalytic performance and thermal stability for enhancing diesel combustion and reducing emissions. This study provides critical insights into the structural integrity and thermal endurance of MgO and CuO nanoparticles, laying the basis for their integration into advanced diesel additive systems aimed at improving engine performance and environmental sustainability.