Development of simple chemical method for synthesis of single phase Ni-Zn ferrite nanopowders

A precursor based method has been developed for the synthesis of nanostructured, single phase Ni-Zn ferrite powders (Ni1-xZnxFe2O4 with x-0.20, 0.35, 0.50 and 0.60). Precursor powders were synthesised by reacting aqueous solutions of metal nitrates and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid and then evaporating them to dryness. The precursors were calcined in air for 2.30 h at different temperatures ranging from 250 to 450 degrees C. The powders synthesised in this manner were characterised by using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric differential scanning calorimetric analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area measurement and SEM. Magnetic characterisation was performed by using a vibrating sample magnetometer. The method provides a simple and cost effective route to produce single phase, Ni-Zn ferrite nanopowders, with average crystallite size of similar to 25 nm, at comparatively low temperature.