Synthesis of cobalt nickel ferrite nanoparticles via autocatalytic decomposition of the precursor

The chemistry, structure, and properties of spinel ferrites are largely governed by the method of preparation. The metal carboxylato-hydrazinate precursors are known to yield nanosized oxides at a comparatively lower temperature. In this study, we are reporting the synthesis of one such precursor, cobalt nickel ferrous fumarato-hydrazinate which decomposes autocatalytically to give cobalt nickel ferrite nanoparticles. The XRD study of this decomposed product confirms the formation of single-phase spinel, i.e., Co0.5Ni0.5Fe2O4. The thermal decomposition of the precursor has been studied by isothermal, thermogravimetric (TG), and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis. The precursor has also been characterized by FTIR, EDX, and chemical analysis, and its chemical composition has been determined as Co0.5Ni0.5Fe2(C4H2O4)(3)center dot 6N(2)H(4).