Understanding the structural and magnetic evolution of superparamagnetic Zn ferrites nanoparticles synthesized by an easy electrochemical process

In the present work, a series of zinc ferrite nanoparticles of 11 nm on average size were synthesized following an electrochemical method in aqueous medium. The nanoparticles were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and neutron diffraction (ND). The magnetic characterization was carried out by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements. The electrochemical synthetic methodology used in this paper yields zinc ferrite monocrystalline nanoparticles with a controlled size, shape and composition, in a reproducible manner. The control of such parameters enables obtaining ferrite nanoparticles with tuneable magnetic properties. The results show that the Zn2+ cations are situated in tetrahedral sites in the crystalline spinel structure, which causes a progressive decrease in the magnetic moments of the ferrites with Zn content due to the breakdown of the super-exchange interactions. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, a series of zinc ferrite nanoparticles with an average size of 11 nm were successfully synthesized using an electrochemical method in aqueous medium, and their structures and magnetic properties were extensively characterized. The synthetic method allows for control over the size, shape, and composition of the nanoparticles to obtain ferrite nanoparticles with tuneable magnetic properties. The results indicate that the Zn2+ cations in the crystalline spinel structure cause a gradual decrease in the magnetic moments of the ferrites with increasing Zn content, due to the breakdown of super-exchange interactions.