Nonaqueous synthesis and magnetic properties of ZnFe2O4 nanocrystals with narrow size distributions

We report the nonaqueous synthesis and magnetic properties of narrowly size distributed ZnFe2O4 nanocrystals of two different particle sizes by nanoemulsion, of which structure and properties were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, and physical property measurement system. The morphological and structural characterization show the high crystallinity and excellent particle size distribution of the ZnFe2O4 nanocrystals in the diameters of 5.37 +/- 60.68 nm and 6.44 +/- 60.95 nm, separately. Meantime, the corresponding magnetic measurements reveal the strong size dependence and well-defined nanomagnetism of the nanocrystals. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3540407]