The effect of solution temperature on crystallite size and magnetic properties of Zn substituted Co ferrite nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials 2010-02, Vol.322 (4), p.383-388
• Main Authors: Mozaffari, M., Manouchehri, S., Yousefi, M.H., Amighian, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Coprecipitation; Coprecipitation method; Crystallites; Diamagnetism, paramagnetism and superparamagnetism; Diffraction; Exact sciences and technology; Ferrite; Ferrite nanoparticle; Frequency ranges; Magnetic properties; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetic properties of nanostructures; Nanoparticles; Physics; Room temperature preparation; Spinel phase; Superparamagnetism; Zinc
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2009.09.051

In this work zinc substituted cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (Co 0.5Zn 0.5Fe 2O 4) have been synthesized by the coprecipitation method, using stable ferric, zinc and cobalt salts with sodium hydroxide, at different solution temperatures, from room temperature to 363 K. The cobalt–zinc ferrite crystalline phase, the particle size and the morphology of the resulting nanoparticles were studied by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The average crystallite size of each sample was calculated from the broadening of the most intense peak (3 1 1), using Scherrer's formula and the results show crystallite sizes increased from 6 to 8 nm by increasing the solution temperature from room temperature to 363 K respectively. Room temperature VSM measurements show that the prepared nanoparticles have superparamagnetic behavior and did not saturate at maximum field of 800 kA/m. The variation of AC-susceptibility of the samples with respect to temperature was measured and it was found that the blocking temperature increased from 198 to 270 K by increasing the solution temperature from room temperature to 363 K respectively. FTIR spectra of the samples have been analyzed in the frequency range 400–4000 cm −1, which also confirms the results of XRD.