Synthesis and characterization of mixed ferrite nanoparticles

Three mixed ferrite systems, namely Mn-0.75 Zn-0.18 Fe-2.07 O-4 (Mn-Zn), Ni-0.65 Zn-0.375 In-0.25 Ti-0.025 Fe-1.70 O-4 (Ni-Zn-In-Ti), and Ni-0.65 Zn-0.35 Fe-2 O-4 (Ni-Zn), have been studied to understand their structural and magnetic parameters under different nano-preparation routes. The Ni-Zn-In-Ti ferrite nanoparticles were prepared by ball milling while the Ni-Zn and Mn-Zn ferrite nanoparticles were prepared by coprecipitation. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and VSM techniques. All the three systems exhibited spinel structures and displayed hysteresis. The estimated average ferrite particle sizes of Mn-Zn, Ni-Zn-In-Ti, and Ni-Zn ferrites using the Scherrer equation are 2.4, 6.9, and 9.9 nm, respectively. The observed corresponding magnetization values of these three systems are 7.9, 26, and 9.1 emu/g, respectively. The results are analyzed by attempting to correlate the magnetic performance of the samples under similar synthesis conditions and the particle size. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.