posted on 2021-06-07, 13:04authored byMaela Manzoli, Olimpia Tammaro, Antonello Marocco, Barbara Bonelli, Gabriele Barrera, Paola Tiberto, Paolo Allia, Jean-Charles Matéo-Vélez, Aurélien Roggero, Eric Dantras, Rossella Arletti, Michele Pansini, Serena Esposito
Two natural zeolite-bearing rocks
(one containing clinoptilolite
and the other chabazite, phillipsite, and analcime) were Fe-exchanged
and thermally treated in a reducing atmosphere at 750 °C for
2 h. Two nanocomposites, formed by the dispersion of Fe nanoparticles
in a ceramic matrix, were obtained. The prepared lunar dust simulants
also contain Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ and other mineral phases originally present in the starting
materials. The samples were fully characterized by different techniques
such as atomic absorption spectrometry, X-ray powder diffraction,
followed by Rietveld analysis, transmission electron microscopy, N2 adsorption/desorption analysis at 77 K, measurements of grain
size distribution, magnetic property measurements, broad-band dielectric
spectroscopy, and DC conductivity measurements. The results of this
characterization showed that the obtained metal–ceramic nanocomposites
exhibit a chemical and mineralogical composition and electrical and
magnetic properties similar to real moon dust and, thus, appear valid
moon dust simulants.