The synthesis of ultrafine MoO₃ through a self-propagating combustion route employing polyethylene glycol as fuel is reported. The precursor molybdenum oxalate is employed in this study for the conversion of the precursor to ultrafine MoO₃ particles. The solvent casting method is adopted for the synthesis of MoO₃ dispersed polyvinyl alcohol nanostructured film (MoO₃–PVA). These synthesized MoO₃ and their composite samples are characterized for their structure, morphology, bonding and thermal behaviour by XRD, SEM, IR and DSC techniques, respectively. The distribution of MoO₃ in polyvinyl alcohol gives a crystalline polymer, a compact structure and an increase in glass transition temperature.

The barium ferrite particles were prepared using a self-propagating low-temperature combustion method using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a fuel. The process was investigated with simultaneous thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA). The crystalline structure, morphology and the magnetic properties of the barium ferrite particles were studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and SQUID susceptometer. The results show that the ignition temperature of PEG is lower compared with other combustion methods and gives nanocrystalline barium ferrite.