Charge generation as a control tool for targeted combustion synthesis of nanostructured oxide materials

Solution combustion synthesis (SCS) is a rapid and energy-efficient method for producing nanostructured oxide materials with tunable properties. However, the final characteristics of SCS-derived oxides — including phase composition, particle size, morphology, defect structure, and oxygen non-stoichiometry — are largely governed by the precursor processes during thermal decomposition and combustion. An understudied yet important factor is thermochemical charge generation in nitrate–organic precursors, which influences nucleation, growth, and defect engineering. While most SCS reviews focus on technological parameters and final product properties, the role of charge generation as a tool for targeted synthesis remains largely overlooked. In contrast, charge effects in heterogeneous self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) have been systematically studied. This review differentiates the charge formation mechanisms in SHS (diffusion and convection at gas/solid interfaces) from those in SCS (ionization and entrainment of charged molecular species with gaseous products). It demonstrates how charge generation, in combination with external electric and magnetic fields, enables precise control over the microstructure, specific surface area, and functional properties of nanostructured oxides.